Organic Chemistry - Phenols
You should know a little about phenol. Phenol itself undergoes hydrogen bonding with other phenol molecules and with water too. So, phenol itself is a kind of soluble in water and it tends to have a high boiling point.
Phenols have an OH group attached to their benzene ring. So just like alcohols, phenols can lose a hydrogen ion. In other words, phenols can act as acids. In fact, phenols are more acidic than alcohols. Phenols with substituted groups that withdraw electrons from the ring such an NO2 and CN stabilize the ion and make the phenol more acidic. Groups that donate electrons such as alkyl groups destabilize the ion and make the phenol less acidic.
Phenols have an OH group attached to their benzene ring. So just like alcohols, phenols can lose a hydrogen ion. In other words, phenols can act as acids. In fact, phenols are more acidic than alcohols. Phenols with substituted groups that withdraw electrons from the ring such an NO2 and CN stabilize the ion and make the phenol more acidic. Groups that donate electrons such as alkyl groups destabilize the ion and make the phenol less acidic.
