--%>
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 : Schrodinger equation with particle in a

    Three dimensional applications of the Schrodinger equation are introduced by the particle-in-a-box problem.So far only a one-dimensional problem has been solved by application of the Schrodinger equation. Now the allowed energies and the probability functi

    		•
  • Q : Alkaline medium The amount of KMnO 4

    The amount of KMnO4 required to prepare 100 ml of 0.1N solution in alkaline medium is: (a) 1.58 gm (b) 3.16 gm (c) 0.52 gm (d) 0.31 gmAnswer: (a) In alkaline medium KMnO4 act as ox

    		•
  • Q : Colligative property associated question

    Give me answer of this question. Which of the following is not a colligative property : (a)Optical activity (b)Elevation in boiling point (c)Osmotic pressure (d)Lowering of vapour pressure

    		•
  • Q : Depression in the freezing point When

    When 0.01 mole of sugar is dissolved in 100g of a solvent, the depression in freezing point is 0.40o. When 0.03 mole of glucose is dissolved in 50g of the same solvent, depression in the freezing point will be:(a) 0.60o  (b) 0.80o

    		•
  • Q : What are heterogenous catalysis? Give

    When the catalyst exists in a different phase than that of reactants, it is said to be heterogeneous catalyst, and the catalysis is called heterogeneous catalysis. For example, SO2 can be oxidized to SO3

    		•
  • Q : Relative reactivity Which is more

    Which is more reactive towards nucleophilic substitution aryl halide or vinyl halides

    		•
  • Q : What do you mean by the term hydra What

    What do you mean by the term hydra? Briefly define it.

    		•
  • Q : Question 6 A student was analyzing an

    A student was analyzing an unknown containing only Group IV cations. When the unknown was treated with 3M (NH4)2CO3 solution, a white precipitate formed. Because the acetic acid bottle was empty, the student used 6M HCl to dissolve the precipitate. Following the procedure of this experiment, the stu

    		•
  • Q : Calculate PH value for a acetic acid 1.

    1. A solution of 0.100 M acetic acid is prepared. a) What is its pH value? b) If 20% of the initial acetic acid is converted to the acetate form by titration with NaOH, what is the resultant pH?

    		•
  • Q : Colligative property related question

    Select the right answer of the question. Which of the following is not a colligative property : (a) Osmotic pressure (b) Elevation in B.P (c) Vapour pressure (d) Depression in freezing point

    		•