Phenol Flashcards
1
Q
Why is phenol a weak acid?
A
It only weakly dissociates to form a phenoxide ion and a H+ ion
3
Q
How does phenol form salts?
A
Phenol is a weak acid so can form phenoxide salts with aqueous strong alkalis
4
Q
What do phenols not react with?
A
Carbonates because they are not strong enough acids and carbonates are weak based
5
Q
What is the directing effect activating effect of an OH group?
A
- electron donating
- 2,4 or 6
- activates the ring
6
Q
What is the directing effect activating effect of a NH2 group?
A
- electron donating
- 2,4,6
- activates the ring
7
Q
What is the directing effect activating effect of a NO2 group?
A
- electron withdrawing
- 3 or 5
- deactives the ring
8
Q
What is the reactivity of nitrobenzene compared to benzene?
A
Reacts even more slowly as no2 deactivates the ring and withdraws electron density
9
Q
Compare the bromination of phenol and benzene
A
- Phenol has a higher electron density than benzene due to the lone pair of the OH group adding density
- therefore it has a stronger ability to polarise Br2
- so reacts rapidly with Br2 at RTP and undergoes electrophilic tri-substitution
