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CAIE A-Level Chemistry 32.2.5 Nitration and Bromination of Phenol

Practise explaining why phenol undergoes nitration and bromination under milder conditions than benzene.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Chemistry 9701
Level
A2

Exam points

  • use dilute HNO3 at room temperature for phenol rather than the concentrated acid mixture used for benzene
  • use Br2(aq) without AlBr3 for phenol bromination rather than halogen and catalyst conditions
  • link oxygen lone-pair delocalisation to higher ring electron density and easier electrophile polarisation

32.2.5—Phenol nitration and bromination conditions question 1

[Maximum number: 4]

Cumene is an aromatic hydrocarbon used in the synthesis of other useful chemicals.

cumene

cumene

Fig. 5.4 shows two reactions of phenol.

Fig. 5.4

Fig. 5.4

State the conditions for the bromination of phenol in reaction 2 .

Explain why these conditions are different from those for the bromination of benzene. conditions
explanation

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