Question:

Phenol, on heating with conc. \( \mathrm{HNO_3} \), gives :

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Conc. nitric acid with heating nitrates phenol at positions 2, 4 and 6 to give picric acid. Dilute acid gives only o- and p-nitrophenol.
Updated On: Oct 22, 2026
  • o-Nitrophenol
  • p-Nitrophenol
  • Picric acid
  • Sodium phenoxide
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Recall the reactivity of phenol.
The -OH group pushes electrons into the ring by resonance. It activates the ortho and para positions strongly towards electrophiles.
So phenol is nitrated much more easily than benzene.

Step 2: Match the reagent strength to the product.
Dilute \( \mathrm{HNO_3} \) at low temperature gives a mixture of o-nitrophenol and p-nitrophenol.
Concentrated \( \mathrm{HNO_3} \) on heating nitrates all three activated positions (2, 4 and 6). The product is 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, called picric acid.
\[ \mathrm{C_6H_5OH + 3HNO_3 \rightarrow C_6H_2(NO_2)_3OH + 3H_2O} \]

Step 3: Check the options.
(A) and (B) are mono-nitro products from dilute acid, so they are wrong here.
(D) Sodium phenoxide forms when phenol reacts with NaOH, and nitric acid does not make it. So (D) is wrong.
(C) picric acid is the correct product.

Final Answer:
Phenol with hot conc. \( \mathrm{HNO_3} \) gives picric acid. \[ \boxed{\text{(C) Picric acid}} \]
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