Team 2: Sungcuan, Billena, Tagupa

M5 EXPERIMENT 6- PROPERTIES OF PHENOLS

II. INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

2. Reaction with Ferric chloride

The reaction with ferric chloride is a common test used to detect the presence of phenols. Phenol,
thymol, catechol, and naphthol all show different colorations when reacted with ferric chloride,
indicating the presence of phenolic compounds.

4. Phenolphthalein test
If you put the phenolphthalein solution in the test tube with 5% NaOH, it will become pink or
magenta, showing that NaOH is a base. In the test tube with 5% HCl, the phenolphthalein
solution will stay colorless, indicating that HCl is acidic. These color changes show that
phenolphthalein is sensitive to pH and can be used in experiments involving acids and bases.

III. QUESTIONS

1. Explain why Br replaces H’s at the 2.,4,6 positions in its reaction with phenol
Compared to hydrogen, bromine is more electronegative, which makes it a more potent group
that withdraws electrons. Since the phenol ring is electron-rich, hydrogen at positions 2, 4, and 6
is more vulnerable to nucleophilic attack in the reaction with phenol, bromine replaces hydrogen
at those sites. Both the availability of electron density on the aromatic ring and the stability of the
resultant intermediate affect the reaction.

2. Write the reaction involved in the formation of phenolphthalein. Identify the functional
in phenolphthalein, which is responsible for the indicator property.
The reaction of phenol and phthalic anhydride produces phenolphthalein. The phthalein
structure, namely the lactone group, is the functional group that is accountable for its indicator
property. In the presence of alkaline solutions, the lactone group changes from being colorless to
pink.