Overview

Phenol (FEE-nol) is a white, crystalline solid with a characteristic odor and a sharp, burning taste. It tends to turn pink or pale red when exposed to light if not perfectly pure. Phenol has a tendency to absorb moisture from the air, changing into an aqueous solution of the compound. Such solutions have a slightly sweet flavor.

Key Facts

Other Names:

Hydroxybenzene; carbolic acid; phenylic acid; benzophenol; phenic acid

Formula:

C₆H₅OH

Elements:

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

Compound Type:

Aromatic alcohol (organic)

State:

Solid

Molecular Weight:

94.11 g/mol

Melting Point:

40.89°C (105.6°F)

Boiling Point:

181.87°C (359.37°F)

Solubility:

Soluble in water, ethyl alcohol, ether, chloroform, acetone, benzene, and other organic solvents

Phenol was probably first observed by German chemist Johann Rudolf Glauber (1604–1668). Glauber obtained phenol by condensing coal tar vapors and separating them into individual compounds. Coal tar is a thick black liquid left over when coal is...