--%>
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 : Basic concepts Determination of correct

    Determination of correct mol. Mass from Roult's law is applicable to :

    		•
  • Q : Mole fraction of water Give me answer

    Give me answer of this question. A solution contains 25%H2O 25%C2H5OH , and 50% CH3 COOH by mass. The mole fraction of H2O would be: (a) 0.25 (b) 2.5 (c) 0.503 (d) 5.03.

    		•
  • Q : Biodegradable polymers what are the

    what are the examples of biodegradable polymers

    		•
  • Q : Mole fraction of hydrogen Give me

    Give me answer of this question. In a mixture of 1 gm H2 and 8 gm O2 , the mole fraction of hydrogen is: (a) 0.667 (b) 0.5 (c) 0.33 (d) None of these

    		•
  • Q : Explain Polyatomic Vibrational Spectra

    Polyatomic molecules vibrate in a number of ways, and some of these vibrations can be studied by infrared absorption spectroscopy and some by Raman spectroscopy. The characters of transformation matrices for all 3n translation rotation vibration motio

    		•
  • Q : What are Vander Waal's Radii? Vander

    Vander Waal's radii can be assigned to the atoms of molecules on the basis of the closeness of approach of these atoms in crystalline substances. Diffraction studies of crystals give information about hoe molecules can approach each other and can pack

    		•
  • Q : Mole fraction of Carbon dioxide Choose

    Choose the right answer from following. If we take 44g of CO2 and 14g of N2 what will be mole fraction of CO2 in the mixture: (a) 1/5 (b) 1/3 (c) 2/3 (d) 1/4

    		•
  • Q : Linde liquefaction process Liquefied

    Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is produced using a Linde liquefaction process from pure methane gas at 3 bar and 280 K (conditions at point 1 in figure below). A three-stage compressor with interceding is used to compress the methane to 100 bar (point 2). The first stage

    		•
  • Q : Molar solution of sulphuric acid Choose

    Choose the right answer from following. The molar solution of sulphuric acid is equal to: (a) N solution (b) 2Nsolution (c) N/2solution (d) 3Nsolution

    		•
  • Q : Basicity order order of decreasing

    order of decreasing basicity of urea and its substituents

    		•