**Phenol** differs from an alcohol because:
- Phenol's OH is bonded to an sp² carbon of an aromatic ring
- Phenol's OH is bonded to an sp³ carbon
- Phenol has no OH group
- Both phenol and alcohol have OH on aromatic rings
Show answer and solution
Correct answer: A. Phenol's OH is bonded to an sp² carbon of an aromatic ring
**Phenols:** -OH bonded directly to an aromatic-ring carbon (sp²).
**Alcohols:** -OH on aliphatic sp³ carbon.
**Crucial difference:** phenol's lone pair conjugates with ring
⇒ acidic; alcohol is essentially neutral.