Question

How is Phenol prepared from Benzene sulphonic acid?

Answer 1

Conversion of Benzene sulphonic acid:-

Step 1: Formation of salt of Benzene sulphonic acid

When Benzene sulfonic acid is reacted with Sodium hydroxide in presence of water it produces salt of Benzene sulfonic acid:

Step 2: Formation of Phenoxide iron

When the salt of Benzene sulfonic acid is again reacted with Sodium hydroxide at a high temperature. it produces Phenoxide ion:

Step 3: Formation of Phenol

This Phenoxide ion is then hydrolyzed to obtain our required Phenol:

This conversion of Benzene sulfonic acid to Phenol is a three-step reaction