Question

During the preparation of phenol from benzene sulfonic acid, which of the following reagents is be used?

• A. $NaOH$
• B. $NaHS{O}_4$
• C. $N{a}_{2}S{O}_4$
• D. $NaCl$

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$NaOH$

In this process, benzene sulfonic acid is reacted with aqueous sodium hydroxide. The resulting salt is mixed with solid sodium hydroxide and fused at a high temperature. The product of this reaction is sodium phenoxide, which is acidified with aqueous acid to yield phenol.
Hence option A is correct.