Question

What happens when Phenol reacts with $\mathrm{NaOH}$?

Answer 1

1. Phenol is considered as a weak acid and $\mathrm{NaOH}$ is a strong base.
2. Hence, this reaction is considered as an acid-base reaction or also known as a neutralization reaction.
3. We know that in an acid-base reaction we get salt and water as the products.
4. Hence, in this reaction the base abstracts the proton of the phenol molecule and then the ion reacts with the base to give a sodium phenoxide ion.
5. The phenoxide ion(salt) is colorless in nature and water is also obtained as a side product.
6. 
7. Phenols in the above reactions is acidic in nature and are considered as Bronsted acids that is they can donate a proton to a stronger base.