Phenol
Phenol (also known as carbolic acid, benzenol, hydroxybenzene, and phenic acid, amongst others) is an organic compound with the formula C6H5OH. It is a naturally occurring substance that is found in organic matter and animal wastes but is now manufactured for commercial use.
Pure phenol is a colourless-to-white crystal which can darken on exposure to light, however the commercial product is a colourless, mobile liquid. It is moderately soluble in water and has a distinctive, sweet, carbolic odour.
Properties of Phenol
- Boiling-point:181.7°C at 760 mm Hg, 70.9°C at 10 mm Hg
- Melting-point: 43°C
- Density: 1.06 at 20°/4°C
- Refractive index. 1.5408 at 41°C
- Flash-point: 80°C (closed cup); 85°C (open cup); mixture of air and 3-10% phenol vapour is explosive
Benefits of Phenol
In various areas, including chemistry, biology, and medical labs, phenol is commonly in use as an organic solvent. It is especially toxic to live cells. Consumers of phenol must understand its properties and know the right procedures for treating them. In consumer products and as intermediates for industrial synthesis, phenols are commonly useful. Uses include:
- Until conducting any operation, phenol was traditionally useful for sterilization in surgical regions.
- To minimize discomfort associated with some nerve conditions, small doses of phenol in water are injected into nerve tissue.
- It is used in molecular techniques in the DNA labs.
- The largest single use of phenol is as an intermediate in the production of phenolic resins.
