Phenol

An aromatic hydroxyl compound whose acidity differs from that of an alcohol.

Formula
C6H6O
Functional group
Phenols
Molar mass
94.11 g/mol
Also known as
carbolic acid, Hydroxybenzene, Phenic acid, Oxybenzene, Benzenol, Phenylic acid

Overview

An aromatic hydroxyl compound whose acidity differs from that of an alcohol.

Here OH is attached directly to a ring carbon. The phenoxide conjugate base benefits from delocalisation involving the aromatic system, so phenol is more acidic than a typical aliphatic alcohol. A benzene ring and an OH group elsewhere in a molecule do not automatically make it a phenol.

Identifiers

Formula
C6H6O
Functional group
Phenols
Molar mass
94.11 g/mol
Also known as
carbolic acid, Hydroxybenzene, Phenic acid, Oxybenzene, Benzenol, Phenylic acid
Chemical identifiers
SMILES
C1=CC=C(C=C1)O
InChI
InChI=1S/C6H6O/c7-6-4-2-1-3-5-6/h1-5,7H
PubChem CID
996

Properties

Melting Point
40.91 °C
Boiling Point
181.75 °C @ 101.3 kPa
Density
1.071 g/cu cm
Water solubility
1 g/15 ml water

Related compounds

  • Phenols

    An aromatic hydroxyl compound whose acidity differs from that of an alcohol.

References

  1. PubChem Compound Summary: Phenol (CID 996)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  2. OpenStax Organic Chemistry: Properties of alcohols and phenolsJohn McMurry · OpenStax · 2023

    Supports the qualitative structural interpretation of the recorded molecular structure; no new physical measurement or verified preparative yield is claimed.

  3. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Phenol — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/996#section=Melting-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. 4th ed. Volumes 1: New York, NY. John Wiley and Sons, 1991-Present., p. V18 (1996) 592

  4. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Phenol — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/996#section=Boiling-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. 4th ed. Volumes 1: New York, NY. John Wiley and Sons, 1991-Present., p. V18 (1996) 592

  5. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Phenol — densityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/996#section=Density. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 1299

  6. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Phenol — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/996#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 1299