p-cresol on heating with zinc dust gives (a) benzene (b) toluene (c) \(\mathrm{p}\) -xylene (d) benzaldehyde

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: (b) toluene

Step by step solution

01

Identify the reactants

p-Cresol is an aromatic compound with the chemical formula \(\mathrm{C}_{7}\mathrm{H}_{8}\mathrm{O}\). Its structure consists of an aromatic benzene ring with a hydroxyl (-OH) group and a methyl (-CH3) group in the para position (opposite each other in the benzene ring). The other reactant is zinc dust, which is a metal commonly used as a reducing agent in various chemical reactions.
02

React p-cresol with zinc dust

Zinc dust acts as a reducing agent and is used to remove the oxygen from the hydroxyl group in p-cresol, leaving a hydrogen atom in its place: $$\mathrm{Zn} + \mathrm{C}_{7}\mathrm{H}_{8}\mathrm{O} \rightarrow \mathrm{C}_{7}\mathrm{H}_{8} + \mathrm{ZnO}$$ This reaction is essentially the removal of the hydroxyl group (-OH) from p-cresol and its reduction to a hydrogen atom.
03

Determine the product obtained

After the reaction, the product formed is a compound with the chemical formula \(\mathrm{C}_{7}\mathrm{H}_{8}\), which is toluene (a benzene ring with a single methyl group attached). Therefore, the correct answer is: (b) toluene

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