A2 Chemistry

NAME:

The Chemical Properties of PHENOL

The purpose of this experiment is to see the effect of the benzene ring on the behaviour of the hydroxyl group, and vice versa. Hazard warning Both phenol and bromine water attack the skin and give off irritating vapours. There fore you must: WEAR GLOVES AND SAFETY GLASSES AVOID CONTACT WITH SKIN KEEP STOPPERS ON BOTTLES TEST A: Solubility in Water Pour about 5cm3 of water into a test-tube and add a spatula (1.5g) of phenol. Cork and shake the tube. Note whether phenol dissolves in water. Add a further 3-4 measures of phenol. Shake and note your observations. Place the test-tube in a beaker of hot water for a few minutes (use a kettle for the hot water). Shake the tube and record your observations. Allow the test-tube to cool and note your observations. Add a few drops of universal indicator solution to the phenol-water mixture in the test tube. Observations:

A2 Chemistry TEST B: Reaction with sodium hydrogencarbonate Into a test-tube pour about 1cm3 of water and add 2-3 small crystals of phenol. Cork and shake until the phenol dissolves. Add about 0.5g of solid sodium hydrogencarbonate and note your observations. Observations

TEST C: Reaction with sodium hydroxide Pour about 5 cm3 of sodium hydroxide into a test-tube and add a spatula of phenol. Cork and shake. Add 3 more measures of phenol, cork and shake. Compare the solubility of phenol in water from experiment A. Drop by drop add 2 cm3 of concentrated hydrochloric acid. Shake and note your observations. Observations

A2 Chemistry TEST D: Reaction with sodium metal. (Be very careful) Heat about 100 cm3 of water in a beaker to about 60oC. Put a spatula of phenol in a DRY test-tube and stand it in the water. Add a 1 mm cube of sodium (dried of oil) to the molten phenol. Apply a lit splint to the mouth of the test-tube.

Observations

TEST E: Reaction with bromine water. Pour about 5 cm3 of water into a test-tube and add a spatula of phenol. Cork and shake. Pour half the solution into another test-tube and keep for test F. Add about 6 drops of bromine water drop by drop. Note observations. Observations

A2 Chemistry TEST F: Reaction with neutral iron (III) chloride Into a test-tube pour 1 cm3 of iron (III) chloride solution. Add sodium carbonate solution, drop by drop, until a trace of brown precipitate just remains after shaking. Add a few drops of this solution to the test-tube prepared in test E. Note your observations. Add a few drops to about 1 cm3 of ethanol. Record your observations. Observations

TEST G: Smell and appearance Very carefully smell some phenol. What does the smell remind you of? Describe the appearance of phenol.