The Chemistry Of Phenol Flashcards
What is a phenol?
A type of organic chemical containing a hydroxyl, -OH, functional group directly bonded to an aromatic ring.
What is the simplest member of the phenols?
C6H5OH, which has the same name as the group - phenol.
How do phenols differ from alcohols?
Phenols have an -OH group directly attached to a benzene ring, while alcohols have an -OH group bonded to a carbon side chain.
True or False: Alcohols and phenols have identical reactions.
False.
What type of acid is phenol classified as?
A weak acid.
Why is phenol less soluble in water than alcohols?
Due to the presence of the non-polar benzene ring.
What happens when phenol is dissolved in water?
It partially dissociates, forming the phenoxide ion and a proton.
How does the acidity of phenol compare to alcohols and carboxylic acids?
Phenol is more acidic than alcohols but less acidic than carboxylic acids.
What is the reaction of ethanol with sodium hydroxide?
Ethanol does not react with sodium hydroxide.
What is the reaction of phenols with sodium hydroxide?
Phenols react to form sodium phenoxide and water.
What distinguishes phenols from carboxylic acids in terms of reaction with sodium carbonate?
Only carboxylic acids react with sodium carbonate to produce carbon dioxide.
What type of reactions do phenols undergo?
Electrophilic substitution reactions.
How do the reaction conditions for phenol compare to those for benzene?
Phenol reacts under milder conditions and more readily than benzene.
What product is formed when phenol reacts with bromine water?
2,4,6-tribromophenol.
What occurs to bromine water during the bromination of phenol?
It decolourises from orange to colourless.
What mixture is formed when phenol reacts with dilute nitric acid?
A mixture of 2-nitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol.
What increases the reactivity of phenol compared to benzene?
A lone pair of electrons from the oxygen p-orbital of the -OH group is donated into the π-system of phenol.
Why is a halogen carrier catalyst not required when brominating phenol?
The electron density in the phenol ring is sufficient to polarise bromine molecules.
