The oxidation of phenol with chromic acid gives

Options

A. An aldehyde
B. A simple diketone
C. A conjugated diketone
D. Ortho benzoquinone

Explanation

To solve the question regarding the oxidation of phenol with chromic acid, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Reactants**:
- The reactant in this reaction is phenol, which has the chemical formula C6H5OH.
- The oxidizing agent is chromic acid, represented as H2CrO4.

2. **Understand the Reaction**:
- When phenol is oxidized, the hydroxyl (–OH) group is converted into a carbonyl group (C=O).
- Chromic acid is a strong oxidizing agent that facilitates this transformation.

3. **Determine the Product**:
- The oxidation of phenol with chromic acid leads to the formation of benzoquinone.
- Benzoquinone is a diketone, meaning it contains two carbonyl groups (C=O) in its structure.

4. **Draw the Structure of Benzoquinone**:
- The structure of benzoquinone can be represented as follows:
```
O
||
C6H4
||
O
```
- This structure shows the two carbonyl groups attached to the benzene ring.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the final product of the oxidation of phenol with chromic acid is benzoquinone.

### Final Answer:
The oxidation of phenol with chromic acid gives **benzoquinone**.

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