What is the main product when phenol reacts with concentrated sulfuric acid?

Practice Questions

Q1
What is the main product when phenol reacts with concentrated sulfuric acid?
  1. Phenyl sulfate
  2. Benzene
  3. Catechol
  4. Anisole

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

What is the main product when phenol reacts with concentrated sulfuric acid?
  • Step 1: Understand that phenol is a compound that has a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a benzene ring.
  • Step 2: Know that concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is a strong acid that can react with phenol.
  • Step 3: Recognize that when phenol reacts with concentrated sulfuric acid, it undergoes a reaction called electrophilic substitution.
  • Step 4: In this reaction, the hydroxyl group (-OH) of phenol is replaced by a sulfate group (-OSO3H).
  • Step 5: The main product of this reaction is called phenyl sulfate, which is formed when the sulfate group attaches to the benzene ring.
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