The product of the reaction of phenol with bromine water is :

Options

A.
B.
C.
D. Both (1) and (3)

Answer

To determine the product of the reaction of phenol with bromine water, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Reactants
Phenol (C6H5OH) is an aromatic compound with a hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to a benzene ring. When phenol is treated with bromine water (an aqueous solution of bromine), it undergoes a reaction.

**Hint:** Identify the functional groups in phenol and the nature of bromine water.

### Step 2: Ionization of Phenol
In the presence of water, phenol can ionize to form a phenoxide ion (C6H5O⁻). This ionization increases the reactivity of the aromatic ring due to the negative charge on the oxygen, making it a better nucleophile.

**Hint:** Consider how the ionization of phenol affects its reactivity towards electrophiles.

### Step 3: Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution
Bromine (Br2) acts as an electrophile in this reaction. Since the phenoxide ion is formed, it directs the incoming bromine to the ortho and para positions of the benzene ring. This is due to the resonance stabilization provided by the -O⁻ group, which enhances the electron density at these positions.

**Hint:** Recall the directing effects of substituents on aromatic rings.

### Step 4: Tri-substitution
Because the phenoxide ion is a strong ortho-para director, multiple bromine atoms can substitute onto the ring. In the case of bromine water, we typically observe tri-substitution, resulting in the formation of 2,4,6-tribromophenol.

**Hint:** Think about how many bromine atoms can be added to the aromatic ring in this reaction.

### Step 5: Conclusion
The product of the reaction of phenol with bromine water is 2,4,6-tribromophenol.

**Final Answer:** The product of the reaction of phenol with bromine water is 2,4,6-tribromophenol.

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