What type of reaction occurs when phenol is treated with sodium metal?

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Question: What type of reaction occurs when phenol is treated with sodium metal?

Options:

Correct Answer: Wurtz reaction

Solution:

The reaction of phenol with sodium metal leads to the formation of biphenyl through the Wurtz reaction.

What type of reaction occurs when phenol is treated with sodium metal?

What type of reaction occurs when phenol is treated with sodium metal?

Step 1: Understand that phenol is a type of organic compound that contains a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a benzene ring.
Step 2: Recognize that sodium metal is a reactive metal that can participate in chemical reactions.
Step 3: When phenol is treated with sodium metal, a reaction occurs where sodium reacts with the hydroxyl group of phenol.
Step 4: This reaction leads to the formation of sodium phenoxide, which is an intermediate compound.
Step 5: The sodium phenoxide can then react with another phenol molecule in a process called the Wurtz reaction.
Step 6: The Wurtz reaction results in the coupling of two phenol molecules to form biphenyl, which is a compound made of two connected benzene rings.

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