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OJEE Phenols — practice questions

Explore 3 free Phenols questions in OJEE Chemistry. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

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Phenols questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–3 of 3.

**Kolbe's reaction** (Kolbe-Schmitt) converts sodium phenoxide into:Read the answer and worked solution →Order of **acidity** among these substituted phenols: phenol (P), p-nitrophenol (N), p-cresol (C, methyl substituent), p-methoxyphenol (M):Read the answer and worked solution →Phenol on reaction with **Zn dust** gives:Read the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

**Kolbe's reaction** (Kolbe-Schmitt) converts sodium phenoxide into:

  1. Salicylic acid (ortho-hydroxybenzoic acid)
  2. Acetic acid
  3. Methanoic acid
  4. Benzoic acid
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Correct answer: A. Salicylic acid (ortho-hydroxybenzoic acid)

**Kolbe-Schmitt:** PhONa + CO₂ (gaseous, 4-7 atm, 125 °C), then H⁺ → 2-hydroxybenzoic acid (salicylic acid). Industrial route to salicylic acid (precursor to aspirin = acetylsalicylic acid).

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Order of **acidity** among these substituted phenols: phenol (P), p-nitrophenol (N), p-cresol (C, methyl substituent), p-methoxyphenol (M):

  1. N > P > C > M
  2. N > P > M > C
  3. C > P > N > M
  4. P > N > C > M
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Correct answer: A. N > P > C > M

p-NO₂ is strong −M, −I — stabilises phenoxide (most acidic). p-CH₃ is +I (mildly destabilises phenoxide; weakly basic). p-OMe is +M (lone pair donates into ring) — strongly destabilises phenoxide (least acidic). **So:** p-NO₂ > unsubstituted > p-CH₃ > p-OMe.

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Phenol on reaction with **Zn dust** gives:

  1. Benzene (deoxygenation — Zn reduces -OH to -H)
  2. Cyclohexanol
  3. Benzaldehyde
  4. 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.)

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