Question

Which of the following will react with aqous NaOH and why

a)C6H5OH

B)C6H5CH2OH

C)(CH3)3COH

D)C2H5OH

Answer 1

(a) Phenol being more acidic reacts with sodium hydroxide solution in water to give sodium phenoxide which is resonance stabilized.

Alcohols are very weak acids.

C6H5OH + NaOH -> C6H5ONa + H2O
ie,the reaction takes place by removal of H+ ion from phenol by OH- ions of NaOH which is eliminated as water. The Na+ ion then combines with the phenoxide ion to form sodium phenoxide. ... Phenol is a very weak acid and sodium hydroxide, NaOH, is a strong alkali so they will react.