Question:

What is the structure of the major product when phenol is treated with bromine water?

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The \(-\mathrm{OH}\) group strongly activates the ring at ortho and para positions; in bromine water substitution is complete at all three positions.
Updated On: Oct 31, 2026
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Phenol is strongly activated towards electrophilic substitution; the phenoxide-like resonance puts electron density at the two ortho and one para position.
In aqueous (polar) medium bromine water brominates all three positions at once, since \(\mathrm{Br_2}\) is polarised by water and no Lewis acid is needed.
Product: 2,4,6-tribromophenol, a white precipitate.
Option (1) shows OH with Br at both ortho positions and at the para position. Option (2) is a dienone (2,4,4,6-tetrabromocyclohexa-2,5-dienone, formed with excess bromine), option (3) is only p-bromophenol and option (4) is only o-bromophenol (these are obtained in \(\mathrm{CS_2}\) or \(\mathrm{CHCl_3}\) at low temperature).
Answer: (1) 2,4,6-tribromophenol
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