Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 3: Problem 165

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

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Statement 1 Salicylic acid may be prepared from sodium phenoxide by Kolbe-Schmidt reaction using carbon dioxide. and Statement 2 Kolbe-Schmidt reaction is a nucleophilic substitution reaction.

Why is pyrrole a much weaker base than pyridine?

Statement 1 Pure phenol is a colourless solid but turns reddish brown on keeping. and Statement 2 Phenol is slowly oxidized by air to quinone.

(a) phenyl benzoate (b) phenolphthalein (c) Fluorescein (d) \(\mathrm{p}\) -hydroxyazobenzene

Which of the following compound will not give benzoic acid on refluxing with alkaline \(\mathrm{KMnO}_{4}\) followed by acidification?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Chemical Analysis

Read Explanation

Inorganic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

Physical Chemistry

Read Explanation

Chemistry Branches

Read Explanation

Kinetics

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free