Phenol reacts with bromine water at room temperature to give an immediate white precipitate of
- A. bromobenzene
- B. phenyl bromide
- C. 2,4,6-tribromophenol
- D. benzene hexabromide
Explanation
The hydroxyl group is strongly activating and directs substitution to the two and four positions, so all three are brominated at once without any catalyst, whereas benzene itself requires a halogen carrier and gives only monosubstitution. The white precipitate is a standard test for phenol. Activation arises because a lone pair on oxygen is donated into the ring, raising its electron density.
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