What happens when:

Phe­nol is treated with Zn dust?

Write chemical equations in support of your answer.

When phenol is treated with zinc dust, a reduction reaction occurs. Zinc acts as a reducing agent, converting phenol into cyclohexene. This process involves the removal of the hydroxyl group (-OH) from phenol, leading to the formation of an alkene.

Chemical Reaction Overview

The reaction can be summarized in the following chemical equation:

Reaction Equation

C6H5OH + Zn → C6H10 + ZnO

Explanation of the Reaction

• C6H5OH represents phenol.
• Zn is the zinc dust used as a reducing agent.
• C6H10 is cyclohexene, the product formed after the reaction.
• ZnO is zinc oxide, a byproduct of the reaction.

This transformation is significant in organic chemistry as it demonstrates the ability to convert alcohols into alkenes through reduction processes. The reaction is typically carried out under controlled conditions to ensure efficiency and yield of the desired product.