Phenol on reaction with dilute nitric acid, gives two products. Which method will be most efficient — Practical Organic Chemistry and Purification Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Phenol on reaction with dilute nitric acid gives o-nitrophenol and p-nitro-phenol .o-nitrophenol and p-nitro-phenol can be separated by steam distillation. Ortho nitro-phenol is steam volatile (intra molecular hydrogen bonding) whereas p-nitro phenol is least steam volatile when compared to the ortho nitro-phenol due to inter molecular hydrogen bonding.