--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

What are methods of phenol preparation and its uses?

Phenol was initially obtained by fractional distillation of coal-tar. Phenol is present in the middle oil fraction in the distillation of coal-tar. Now-a-days, it is manufactured from cumene (isopropyl benzene).
    
From cumene

The starting material for the preparation of phenol is cumene (isopropyl benzene). Cumene itself is prepared by Friedel-Craft alkylation of benzene with propene. Cumene is oxidized through air to cumene hydroperoxide, which after treatment with dilute sulphuric acid provides phenol and acetone.

2379_Phenol preparation.png 
    
From benzene (Raschig process)

The method involves heating of benzene, HCl and air over a catalyst (mixture of CuCl2 and FeCl2) at 500 K when chlorobenzene is produced. It is then heated with super heated steam at 750 K to give phenol.

719_Phenol preparation1.png 

Another new method for synthesis of phenol is to pass benzene and air over V2O5 at 600 K when benzene is directly oxidized to phenol.

1637_Phenol preparation2.png 

Uses of phenol
    
In the manufacture of drugs like salicylic acid, pheacetin, aspirin, salol etc.
    
For the manufacture of Bakelite by polymerizing with formaldehyde.
    
For the manufacture of phenolphthalein, picric acid.
    
As a additive for ink.
    
For the manufacture of cyclohexanol used as solvent for rubber.
    
As a strong antiseptic in soaps, lotions etc.
    
Phenol is used in the manufacture of herbicides such as '2, 4-D' and germicides such as "TCP".

   Related Questions in Chemistry

  • Q : Tetrahedral holes In zinc blende

    In zinc blende structure, zinc atom fill up:(a) All octahedral holes  (b) All tetrahedral holes  (c) Half number of octahedral holes  (d) Half number of tetrahedral holesAnswer: (d) In zinc blende (ZnS

    		•
  • Q : Molecular mass from Raoults law Provide

    Provide solution of this question. Determination of correct molecular mass from Raoult's law is applicable to: (a) An electrolyte in solution (b) A non-electrolyte in a dilute solution (c) A non-electrolyte in a concentrated solution (d) An electrolyte in a liquid so

    		•
  • Q : Donnan Membrane Equilibria The electric

    The electric charge acquired by macromolecules affects the equilibrium set up across a semipermeable membrane.Laboratory studies of macromolecule solutions as in osmotic pressure and dialysis studies confine the macromolecules to one compartment while allo

    		•
  • Q : Explain Solid Compound Formation. In

    In some two component, solid liquid systems, a solid compound forms.In systems in which the components have an interaction for such other, a solid state compound of the two compounds of the two components can form.Formic acid and formaide form a solid state, one-to-one com

    		•
  • Q : Molarity of acid solution If 20ml of

    If 20ml of 0.4N, NaoH solution completely neutralises 40ml of a dibasic acid. The molarity of the acid solution is: (a) 0.1M (b) 0.2M  (c) 0.3M (d) 0.4M Choose the right answer fron above.

    		•
  • Q : Hybridization Atomic orbitals can be

    Atomic orbitals can be combined, in a process called hybridization, to describe the bonding in polyatomic molecules. Descriptions of the bonding in CH4 can be used to illustrate the valence bond procedure. We must arrive a

    		•
  • Q : How to calculate solutions molar

    The contribution of an electrolyte, or an ion electrolyte, is reported as the molar of a conductance. The definition of the molar conductance is based on the following conductivity cell in which the electrodes are 1 m apart and of sufficient area that th

    		•
  • Q : Problem on vapour pressure Choose the

    Choose the right answer from following. If P and P are the vapour pressure of a solvent and its solution respectively N1 and N2 and are the mole fractions of the solvent and solute respectively, then correct relation is: (a) P= PoN1 (b) P= Po N2 (c)P0= N2 (d)

    		•
  • Q : Molecular crystals Among the below

    Among the below shown which crystal will be soft and have low melting point: (a) Covalent  (b) Ionic  (c) Metallic  (d) MolecularAnswer: (d) Molecular crystals are soft and have low melting point.

    		•
  • Q : Problem on partial pressure i) Show

    i) Show that the equilibrium constant Kp for the reaction CaCo3(s) ↔ CaO(s) +CO2(g)is about unity (i.e. = 1.0) at 895 °C.ii) If two grams of calcium carbonate are pl

    		•