Bromine Water Test for Phenols

Objectives:
To examine the physical and chemical properties
of representative alcohols, thiols, phenols, and
ethers.
To make the comparison between the different
types of alcohols and phenols thru their physical
and chemical properties.

Procedure:
Place 5 drops of aqueous phenol into a clean and
dry test tube.
Add 10 drops of bromine water until a change in
color is observed.

Result:

Bromine
water

Aqueous
phenol

White precipitate

Bromine Water Test

a quantitative test for the presence of
unsaturation (carbon to carbon double and
triple bonds) and phenols.
if bromine water is added to a solution of phenol
in water, the bromine water is decolorized and a
white precipitate is formed.

Phenol

A benzene ring undergoes substitution reactions in

which the hydroxyl group of phenol activates the ring to
electrophilic substitution; ring electrons are
attacked by positive ions.
The OH group has a 2-4 directing effect; incoming
groups will tend to go into the 2- position (next door to
the OH group) or the 4- position (opposite the OH
group).
The precipitate is 2,4,6-tribromophenol.