why phenol decolorizes bromine water and forms a white percopitate whereas ethanol does not?

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why phenol decolorizes bromine water and forms a white percopitate whereas ethanol does not?

2007-01-10 05:12:01 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry

2 answers

Phenol has a benzene ring structure while ethanol is a straight-chain hydrocarbon. Bromophenol is slightly miscible in water whereas bromoethane has a different density and will actually float on water like all hydrocarbons.

2007-01-10 05:17:14 · answer #1 · answered by Fergi the Great 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋

Bromine and phenol react to form 2,4,6-tribromophenol in a very fast electrophilic substitution reaction.
Ethanol is saturated, so there is no reaction.

2007-01-10 05:48:42 · answer #2 · answered by Gervald F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋