The Chemistry Of Phenols Flashcards
What are phenols
Organic chemical containing a hydroxyl-OH functional group directly bonded to an aromatic ring
What is the molecular formula of phenols
C6H5OH
Why is phenol a weak acid
Is less soluble than water than alcohols due to presence of the nonpolar benzene ring. When dissolved in water phenol partially dissociates forming the phenoxode ion and proton
Describe the acidify of phenols
More acidic than alcohols but less acidic than carboxylic acid. Can be seen by comparing dissociation constant Ka of an alcohol with a phenol and a carboxylic acid
What does ethanol not react with
Sodium hydroxide ( strong base)
Sodium carbonate ( a weak base)
What does phenol and carboxylic acid react with
Solutions of strong bases such as aqueous sodium hydroxide
Why are carboxylic acid only able to react with weak base sodium carbonate
Because are strong enough acids
What is the reaction of phenol and sodium hydroxide
Neutralisation reaction
What does phenol reacting with sodium hydroxide
Form salt sodium phenoxide and water
What reaction does phenol undergo
Are aromatic compounds and undergo electrophilic substitution reactions. The reactions take place in milder conditions and more readily than the reactions of benzene
What happens during the bromination of phenol
Reacts with an aqueous solution of bromine to form white precipitate of 2,4,6 tribromophenol
Reaction decolorises the bromine water. With phenol a halogen carrier catalyst is not required and reaction carried out in room
Temp
What happens during nitration of phenol
Phenol reacts readily with dilute nitric acid at room temps mixture of
