Chemistry · Alcohols, Phenols and Ether
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Which product is formed by the reaction of phenol with concentrated nitric acid?
- A
Adipic acid
- B
m-Nitrophenol
- C
Picric acid
- D
p-Nitrophenol
When phenol reacts with concentrated nitric acid picric acid is formed.
This option is incorrect. Adipic acid is a dicarboxylic acid (HOOC-(CH₂)₄-COOH). It is not related to phenol or nitration reactions. Usually produced from cyclohexanol/cyclohexanone, not phenol.
This option is incorrect. This is a mono-nitration product where the –NO₂ group is added at the meta position. However, –OH group is an activating, ortho/para directing group, so nitration gives ortho and para products, not meta. m-Nitrophenol is formed only under specific, controlled mono-nitration conditions, not with concentrated HNO₃.
This option is correct. 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol is the major product when phenol reacts with concentrated nitric acid due to multiple substitutions. A bright yellow compound, historically used in explosives and dyes.
This option is incorrect. This is one of the products of mono-nitration of phenol using dilute nitric acid. It is not the main product when concentrated nitric acid is used.
Tagged under Chemistry · Alcohols, Phenols and Ether · 2024