phenols: Organic compounds thatcontain a hydroxyl group (–OH)bound directly to a carbon atom in abenzene ring. Unlike normal alcohols,phenols are acidic because ofthe influence of the aromatic ring.Thus, phenol itself (C6H5OH) ionizesin water:
C6H5OH → C6H5O– + H+
Phenols are made by fusing a sulphonicacid salt with sodium hydroxideto form the sodium salt of thephenol. The free phenol is liberatedby adding sulphuric acid.
