Specification: |
Phenols and cresols are much weaker as acids than common carboxylic acids ,which are incompatible with strong reducing substances such as hydrides, nitrides, alkali metals, and sulfides. Flammable gas (H2) is often generated, and the heat of the reaction may ignite the gas. Heat is also generated by the acid-base reaction between phenols and bases. Such heating may initiate polymerization of the organic compound. Phenols are also nitrated very rapidly, even by dilute nitric acid.Phenols are sulfonated very readily (for example, by concentrated sulfuric acid at room temperature).
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