The conversion of phenol to benzene by strongly heating it with zinc dust is a standard preparation method. What is the fundamental chemical nature of this reaction from the perspective of the phenol

Question

The conversion of phenol to benzene by strongly heating it with zinc dust is a standard preparation method. What is the fundamental chemical nature of this reaction from the perspective of the phenol molecule?

Prashant Kotian · Accepted Answer

Correct answer: C. During this reaction, phenol () loses an oxygen atom to form benzene (). The removal of oxygen is fundamentally a reduction process. The zinc dust acts as the reducing agent, accepting the oxygen atom to become oxidized into zinc oxide ().

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