Phenol on reaction with **Zn dust** gives:
- Benzene (deoxygenation — Zn reduces -OH to -H)
- Cyclohexanol
- Benzaldehyde
- Anisole
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Correct answer: A. Benzene (deoxygenation — Zn reduces -OH to -H)
Phenol + Zn (heat, distillation) → benzene + ZnO.
Zn dust strips the OH off phenol — useful in structure elucidation of aromatic compounds.
(Strong reductive deoxygenation.)