RESULTS

Experiment Observation Equations

a) Reaction of phenol with - The solution is not
water when heated. Then homogenous
tested with litmus paper - Change blue litmus paper to
and addition of sodium. pink
- With the addition of sodium
carbonate the solution
becomes homogenous.

Conclusion:
The solution is acidic.

b) Phenol was dissloved in - The gas shuts down the

ether and a small piece of flame of burning wooden
Na(s) is added. Test it splinter.
with a burning wooden
splinter. Conclusion:
It produces Hydrogen gas

c) Addition of bromine - Cloudy, oily and have an

water to an aqueous unpleasent smell
phenol solution
Conclusion:
The product is 2,4,6-
tribromophenol, which has
such a low solubility in water
that it is often used not only as
a qualitative test for phenol
but also as a quantitative
measure of the amount of
phenol present.
d) Few drops of neutral - Oily and dark green
Fe(III) chloride solution precipitation.
with aqeuous phenol
Conclusion:
There is a formation of a
certain coordination
complexes with ferum.
e) 2cm3 of sodium - The solution becomes
bicarbonate is added to a cloudy and there is bubbles
small amout of phenol appeared.

Conclusion:
It produces carbon dioxide
gas.
DISCUSSION

Based on the results, we have found that reaction of phemol with water when heated is acidic due
to the solution changes the blue litmus paper into pink and the solution is only homogenous
when sodium carbonate was added otherwise it will only be two separate reagent. Secondly,
when phenol was dissloved in ether and a small piece of Na(s) is added hydrogen gas is formed
because it did not lit the burning wooden splinter back. Next, when bromine water was added to
an aqueous solution, 2,4,6-tribromophenol was formed this can be proven by the solution turns
cloudy immediately. Additionally, when a few drops of neutral Fe(III) chloride solution with
aqeuous phenol an oily and dark precipitation is shown which in this can it just show that the
origin of the alcohol used is pheno where if it is a normal alcohol no change would occur. Last
but not least, for the experiment of 2cm3 of sodium bicarbonate is added to a small amout of
phenol, bubbles would appear and the solution instantly turns cloudy. This is due to the
production of carbon dioxide gas.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, based on the aim that is to investigate the reaction of phenols with certain reagents
and its properties, is achieved.

REFERENCE

1. David C. Eaton, Laboratory investigations in Organic Chemistry. 1989, McGraw-Hill.

2. Charles F. Willcox, Jr, Experimental organic chemistry- A small Scale Apporoach.1988,

Macmillan.

3. Kenneth L. Williamson, Macroscale and Microscale Organic Experiments. 2003,

Houghton Mifflin.

4. D. Pasto, C. Johnson, M. Miller, Experiments and Techniques in Organic Chemistry 1992,

Prentice Hall.