An organic compound containing C, H and O gives following observations:
(i) It exists in two isomeric forms (A) and (B).
(ii) 0.108 g of one of the isomers on combustion gave 0.308 g of `CO_(2)` and 0.072 g of `H_(2)O`
(iii) (A) is insoluble in NaOH and `NaHCO_(3)` while (B) is soluble in NaOH.
(iv) (A) reacts with Hl to give compound (C ) and (D). (C ) can be separated from (D) by ethanolic `AgNO_(3)` solution and (D) is soluble in NaOH.
(v) (B) readily reacts with bromine water to give compound (E) of molecular formula `C_(7)H_(5)OBr_(3)`
Compound (B) in the above passage is

Options

A. anisole
B. o-cresol
C. m-cresol
D. p-cresol

Answer

To determine the identity of compound B based on the given observations, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Determine the empirical formula of the compound
1. **Combustion Data**: We are given that 0.108 g of one isomer on combustion produces 0.308 g of CO2 and 0.072 g of H2O.
2. **Calculate moles of CO2 and H2O**:
- Moles of CO2 = mass / molar mass = 0.308 g / 44 g/mol = 0.0070 mol
- Moles of H2O = mass / molar mass = 0.072 g / 18 g/mol = 0.0040 mol
3. **Calculate moles of C and H**:
- Each mole of CO2 contains 1 mole of C, so moles of C = 0.0070 mol.
- Each mole of H2O contains 2 moles of H, so moles of H = 2 * 0.0040 mol = 0.0080 mol.
4. **Calculate moles of O**:
- Total mass of the compound = 0.108 g
- Mass of C = 0.0070 mol * 12 g/mol = 0.084 g
- Mass of H = 0.0080 mol * 1 g/mol = 0.008 g
- Mass of O = Total mass - (mass of C + mass of H) = 0.108 g - (0.084 g + 0.008 g) = 0.016 g
- Moles of O = 0.016 g / 16 g/mol = 0.0010 mol.

### Step 2: Determine the molecular formula
5. **Calculate the ratio of moles**:
- C: 0.0070 mol / 0.0010 mol = 7
- H: 0.0080 mol / 0.0010 mol = 8
- O: 0.0010 mol / 0.0010 mol = 1
6. **Empirical formula**: C7H8O.

### Step 3: Identify the isomers
7. **Isomeric forms**: The compound has two isomeric forms, A and B.
8. **Solubility in NaOH**: A is insoluble in NaOH and NaHCO3, indicating it is likely an ether or aromatic compound, while B is soluble, indicating it is likely a phenol.
9. **Reactions with HI**: A reacts with HI to produce compounds C and D, where C is likely an alkyl halide and D is a phenol.

### Step 4: Identify compound B
10. **Bromine water reaction**: B reacts with bromine water to give a compound with the formula C7H5OBr3, indicating that B has a phenolic structure.
11. **Based on the given options**: The options are anisole, ortho-cresol, meta-cresol, and para-cresol.
12. **Conclusion**: Since B is soluble in NaOH and reacts with bromine water, it is likely meta-cresol (m-cresol).

### Final Answer
Compound B is **meta-cresol (m-cresol)**.

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