Step 1: Understand what phenols are. Phenols are organic compounds that contain a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a benzene ring.
Step 2: Recognize the structure of phenols. The benzene ring is a stable structure, but the presence of the hydroxyl group makes it more reactive.
Step 3: Learn about electrophilic substitution reactions. These are reactions where an electrophile (a positively charged species) replaces a hydrogen atom on the benzene ring.
Step 4: Know that the hydroxyl group activates the benzene ring. This means it makes the ring more likely to react with electrophiles.
Step 5: Conclude that phenols typically undergo electrophilic substitution reactions because the hydroxyl group enhances the reactivity of the benzene ring.
