Name an alkylbenzene widely used as a chemical intermediate in the production of phenol.

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

SSC CGL 2022 Tier-I Official Paper (Held On : 12 Dec 2022 Shift 2)

Answer 1

Correct Answer Cumene

Key Points

One alkylbenzene widely used as a chemical intermediate in the production of phenol is cumene (isopropylbenzene).
Cumene is oxidized to cumene hydroperoxide, which is then cleaved to phenol and acetone.
This process is known as the cumene process and is one of the most important methods for the commercial production of phenol.

Additional InformationFuran

Furan is a heterocyclic organic compound, consisting of a five-membered aromatic ring with four carbon atoms and one oxygen atom.
Chemical compounds containing such rings are also referred to as furans.
Chemical formula of Furan is C4H4O.
Furan is a colorless, flammable, highly volatile liquid with a boiling point close to room temperature.

Styrene:

Styrene is a colourless, flammable liquid, which has a sweet odour and is highly volatile.
Styrene is widely used to make Polystyrene/Styrofoam plastics containers as well as a number of speciality plastics and synthetic rubbers.
Besides, it is used to manufacture a variety of products, such as insulation, pipes, automobile parts, printing cartridges, food containers, and carpet backing.
It is toxic to the nervous system if ingested or inhaled, and contact with the skin and eyes can cause irritation.
- Chronic exposure affects the central nervous system showing symptoms such as depression, headache, fatigue, and weakness, and may cause minor effects on kidney function.
Acute exposure may also result in gastrointestinal effects.
It could also lead to cancer and depression in some cases.
However, EPA notes that there is no sufficient evidence despite several epidemiology studies indicating there may be an association between styrene exposure and an increased risk of leukaemia and lymphoma.
Recently, the tragic styrene gas leak incident in the LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam has affected the health of people of that area.

Toluene:

Toluene is also an alkylbenzene that is widely used as a chemical intermediate in the production of phenol.
Toluene is oxidized to benzyl alcohol, which is further oxidized to benzaldehyde.
Benzaldehyde is then converted to benzoic acid, which is used to produce phenol via the cumene process or other methods.
So toluene can also be used as a starting material in the production of phenol.