Question

How is cumene converted into phenol? Give test to distinguish between phenol and ethanol.

Answer 1

Cumene is converted into phenol by oxidation of cumene.

Phenol is weak acidic hence turns blue litmus red. It give positive dye test, whereas alcohols do not show dye test.

Phenol gives violet coloured ferric phenoxide complex with aqueous neutral ferric chloride whereas, alcohols do not.