Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Jill on April 04, 2004, 08:24:46 PM
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what method migh be used to separate phenols from alkyl alcohols?
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What methods do you know?
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I must be really confused with this question. I know phenols ara solluable in diulte and unlike alcohols are insoluable. I also know phenols are acidic. So I guess I don't understand the question. Am I on the right track?
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Yes, I'm pretty sure you're on the right track.
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::) So is the answer to dilute them or am I not looking into it far enough?
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Insoluble phenols and alcohols can be distinguished by their acidity.
Phenol will solvate in water (or with the addition of a suitable base which will not hydrolyze the alkyl alcohol) while akly alcohol will not dissolve. Remember, the conjugated base of an alcohol is an ion and thus will dissolve.
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Okay, now it's clicking. Can you tell me how to draw on this so I can ask some questions. I've had to name some compounds and I wanted to ask if I named them correctly or not. Thanks for all of your help.
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Can you tell me how to draw on this so I can ask some questions.
Not sure what you mean
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I figured it out, I put it in a new question form. I drew some picture of aromatic compounds and was hopeing to see if I named them correctly. If you get a chance please review those and let me know what you think. Thanks again.
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Some alcohols (eg. methanol, ethanol, propanols) and some phenols are good soluble in water.
But because of their greatest acidity than alcohols, phenols form salts with strong bases good soluble in water and insoluble in many organic solvents. So, alcohols can be separated from water solution of phenol salts by extraction.