Electrophilic aromatic substitution on the phenol ring is exceptionally facile. Which of the followi — Alcohols Phenols and Ethers Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The hydroxyl group is strongly activating because its lone pairs participate in resonance (+R effect), drastically increasing electron density at the ortho and para positions. This makes electrophilic attack very easy. In highly ionizing solvents like water, bromination cannot be stopped at monosubstitution, yielding the 2,4,6-tribromophenol precipitate. Statement D is false; oxygen donates via resonance (+R) but withdraws inductively (-I).