Question

Which of the following is correct regarding the following reaction?
$\text{Phenol}\underset{298K}{\overset{\text{Dilute}HN{O}_3}{\to }}\text{Product(s)}$

• A. Mixture of o-Nitrophenol and p-Nitrophenol is formed.
• B. Only o-Nitrophenol is formed.
• C. Products can be seperated using chromatography
• D. Products can be seperated using steam distillation

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (D)

Products can be seperated using steam distillation

The following reaction takes place and mixture of o-Nitrophenol and p-Nitrophenol is formed as shown:

The ortho and para isomers of nitrophenol from the mixture can be seperated by steam distillation. This is because ortho isomer is steam volatile due to negligible intramolecular H-bonding whereas para isomer is less volatile due to Intermolecular H-bonding