Question

The phenol gives characteristic colouration with?

• A. Iodine solution
• B. Bromine water
• C. Aqueous ${\mathrm{FeCl}}_3$solution
• D. Ammonium hydroxide

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Aqueous ${\mathrm{FeCl}}_3$solution

The explanation for the correct option:

Option(C):Aqueous ${\mathrm{FeCl}}_3$solution

• Phenol generally gives characteristic colouration with the aqueous ${\mathrm{FeCl}}_3$ ​ solution due to the formation of coloured complex in which Iron tends to be hexavalent in nature.
• For which the reaction can be given as :

• This test is basically used in analytical chemistry for the distinction of Phenols from Carboxylic acids.

The explanation for the incorrect option:

Option(A):Iodine solution

• Phenol does not give characteristic colouration with Iodine solution.
• Hence, the given option is the incorrect one.

Option(B): Bromine water

• Bromine water does not give characteristic colouration with Phenol.
• Thus, the given concept does not represent the correct concept.

Option(D): Ammonium hydroxide

• Phenol does not give characteristic colouration with Ammonium hydroxide.
• Thus, the given concept does not coincide with the correct concept.

Hence, phenol gives characteristic colouration with an aqueous${\mathrm{FeCl}}_3$ solution, option (C) is the correct answer.