Bromination and uses of phenols

Question 1

What are the conditions for the reaction between phenol and bromine to produce 2,4,6 - tribromophenol?

Answer 1

Phenol undergoes electrophilic substitution with bromine, the reaction takes place at room temperature.

Question 2

When bromine water is added to an aqueous solution of phenol, what appears?

Answer 2

A white precipitate of 2,4,6- tribromophenol.

Question 3

Write out the reaction of phenol with bromine.

Answer 3

Question 4

Why does bromine react more readily with phenol than with benzene?

Answer 4

• The lone pair of electrons on the oxygen atom (occuping the p orbital) in the phenol group is drawn into the benzene ring.
• This creates a high electron density in the ring structure which is enough to polarise the bromine molecules, which are then attracted more strongly towards the ring structure in benzene.

Question 5

What are some uses of phenol?

Answer 5

• Phenol can be nitrated to form picric acid, which is an explosive.
• Phenol can be reacted with methanal to form resins, which are the basis of plastic materials. These resins are also binding materials for plywood.

Question 6

Give the use of alkyl phenols.

And give an example of an alkyl phenol - hint: 2-ethylphenol

Answer 6

• Found in surfactants and detergents.

Question 7

Give a use of chlorophenols and draw a chlorophenol

hint: 2,4 - dichlorophenol

Answer 7

• Found in antiseptics and disinfectants such as TCP.

Question 8

What are the uses of salicylic acid?

Draw the structure of salicylic acid.

Answer 8

Preparation of aspirin and other pharmaceuticals.

Question 9

What are the uses of bisphenol?

• Draw bisphenol

Answer 9

Production of epoxy resins for paints