Physical Properties of Phenols Preparation and Properties
- Phenols are colourless crystalline solids with characteristic phenolic odour.
- The melting point of phenol is 314 K and boiling point is 455 K.
- Phenols are sparingly soluble in water, solubility in water is due to formation of hydrogen bonding with molecules of water.
- Phenols are soluble in alcohols and ethers.
- In the presence of air, phenols are oxidised to pink coloured liquid due to the formation of para benzoquinone.
- It is poisonous substance and it irritates skin.
- It is used as antiseptic and pesticide.
The —OH group in phenols is involved in intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Due to this reason their boiling points are higher in comparison to other classes of compounds namely hydrocarbons, ethers, haloalkanes and haloarenes of comparable molecular masses.
