ORGANIC CHEMISTRY III

Reactions of Phenols

Phenols contain an OH group connected to a carbon of a benzene ring (Ar-OH phenol)

The following tests and experiments are designed to illustrate some properties and reactions of phenols.

1. Solubility
Procedure
In six separate test tubes place 0.2 -0.5 g of of the following: phenol. (Caution: Avoid any skin contact
with phenol. In case of a burn, wash thoroughly with water for 15 minutes . Add 2 mL of distilled water
to the tube, mix, and observe. Record the results on the report sheet.

2. Reaction with Alkali

Procedure
In a test tube place 0.2 -0.5 g of phenol. Add 5 mL of 10% sodium hydroxide to the tube, observe, and
record the result.

3. Reaction with Metallic Sodium

2 R-OH + 2 Na -------> 2 R-O-Na+ + H2

an alkoxide

Procedure
Place 0.2 -0.5 g of phenol a test tube. Add a small piece of sodium metal to each test tube and note the
result. Add a few drops of universal indicator to the solution and record the result. (Caution:DO NOT
discard the contents of any tube with unreacted sodium down the drain; sodium reacts violently with
water. Add sufficient ethanol to destroy any unreacted sodium, then rinse the solution down the drain.)

3.Reactions of Phenols with Bromine Water

Procedure
To about 0.1 g of phenol dissolved in 3 mL of water add bromine water with shaking, until the yellow
colour persists. Observe the results.

4.Reactions of Phenols with Ferric Chloride

Procedure
In a test tube dissolve one or two crystals of the compounds to be tested in 5 mL of water. Add one or two
drops of 1% ferric chloride solution, shake, and observe the results.