
What does phenol odor smell like?
odor: Meaty, phenolic, sulfuraceous, with a rubbery allicious backnote. flavor: Meaty, phenolic, with a burnt rubber sulfureous nuance. FL/FR. piperitenone. odor: sharp minty phenolic. FL/FR. 2-iso. propyl phenol. odor: solvent like, phenolic, smoky with toasted woody and burnt rubber nuances.
Is smelling phenol is good or bad?
commercial product is a liquid. Phenol has a distinct odor that is sickeningly sweet and tarry. You can taste and smell phenol at levels lower than those . that are associated with harmful effects. Phenol evaporates more slowly than water, and a moderate amount can form a solution with water. Phenol is used primarily in the production of phenolic
Why does phenol have a low pKa?
Why does phenol have a low pKa? Nitro groups are very powerful electron-withdrawing groups. The phenol derivative picric acid has a pKa of 0.25, lower than that of trifluoroacetic acid. Use a resonance argument to explain why picric acid has such a low pKa. Notice that the methoxy group increases the pKa of the phenol group - it makes it less ...
What are the side effects of phenol?
Side effects requiring immediate medical attention
- Difficulty with breathing
- fever
- headache
- nausea
- rash
- swelling
- vomiting
- worsening of pain, redness, swelling, or irritation in or around the mouth

Is phenol smell toxic?
Phenol is highly irritating to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes in humans after acute (short-term) inhalation or dermal exposures. Phenol is considered to be quite toxic to humans via oral exposure.
Do phenolic compounds smell?
Smoky, woody and dusty/musty attributes were found in the odor characteristics of most phenolic compounds.
What does the smell of phenol remind you of?
In its pure form, it may be colorless or white. It has a mildly sugary scent that might remind you of somewhere that's sterile, such as a hospital room.
Is phenol A aromatic?
Although phenols are often considered simply as aromatic alcohols, they do have somewhat different properties. The most obvious difference is the enhanced acidity of phenols. Phenols are not as acidic as carboxylic acids, but they are much more acidic than aliphatic alcohols, and they are more acidic than water.
What is the pH of phenol?
around 5 - 6Properties of phenol as an acid The pH of a typical dilute solution of phenol in water is likely to be around 5 - 6 (depending on its concentration). That means that a very dilute solution isn't really acidic enough to turn litmus paper fully red. Litmus paper is blue at pH 8 and red at pH 5.
What is the smell of aldehydes?
In general, C9 aldehyde has a rose-like smell, whereas C10 aldehyde has floral with citrus-like smell.
What do phenols taste like?
Phenolic flavors and aromas are often described as clove-like, medicinal, smoky, or “band-aid” and are considered off-flavors in most beer styles. Beer always contains some form of phenol; polyphenols, such as tannins, are derived directly from hops and malt.
What does phenol look like?
Phenol is both a manufactured chemical and a natural substance. It is a colorless-to-white solid when pure. The commercial product is a liquid. Phenol has a distinct odor that is sickeningly sweet and tarry.
Can you swallow phenol?
Swallowing phenol burns the lining of the digestive tract and can result in internal bleeding. Generally, the more serious the exposure, the more severe the symptoms. Phenol is absorbed easily into the body through the skin, lungs, and stomach. The brain is very sensitive to phenol.
What is called phenol?
phenol. / (ˈfiːnɒl) / noun. Also called: carbolic acid a white crystalline soluble poisonous acidic derivative of benzene, used as an antiseptic and disinfectant and in the manufacture of resins, nylon, dyes, explosives, and pharmaceuticals; hydroxybenzene. Formula: C 6 H 5 OH.
Why is phenol called phenol?
Phenols are molecules that have a hydroxyl group attached to the carbon atom of an aromatic ring. Nomenclature. By definition, phenol is hydroxybenzene. Phenol is a common name for the compound.
Why is phenol acidic?
The acidity of phenols is due to their ability to lose hydrogen ions to form phenoxide ions. In a phenol molecule, the sp2hybridised carbon atom of the benzene ring attached directly to the hydroxyl group acts as an electron-withdrawing group.
How do you get rid of phenol smell?
Phenol being soluble in water, washing your clothes and taking a shower should be sufficient to get rid of the smell, IF the smell is even a problem in the first place.
Are phenolics volatile?
Volatile phenols like phenylpropanoid and benzoid compounds originate from the aromatic amino acid phenylalanine, which is biosynthesized via the shikimate/arogenate pathway. These volatile compounds contribute to the aroma of a number of economically important plant-derived foods like herbs, spices and fruits.
What does Whisky smell like?
Whiskey smells like caramel because it has a sweet fragrance that tends to have the rich sweetness of caramel, honey, or vanilla. Charred woods also impart a sweeter flavor during the maturation process.
Is phenol soluble in water?
WaterPhenol / Soluble inWater is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms. It is vital for all known forms of life, even though it provides neither food, energy, nor organic micronutrients. Wikipedia
What is the phenol concentration in the air?
SOURCE DOMINATED AREAS: Phenol concns of 83 source dominated U.S. air samples ranged from 0.44 to 420 ppb with a median of 5 ppb (1). Phenol concns of 44 U.S. source dominated samples had a median of 6.88 ppbv (2). Phenol was identified, but not quantified, in air along the Niagara River, September 1982 (3).
What is phenol in a nerve?
Phenol is a potent proteolytic agent. Concentrations in the 5% to 7% range dissolve tissue on contact via proteolysis. In high concentrations when injected next to a nerve, phenol produces a chemical neurolysis which is nonselective across nerve fiber size and most prominent on its outer aspect. Local anesthetic effects occur within 5-10 minutes.
What is the concn of phenol in pork belly?
The concn of phenol in summer smoked sausage and smoked pork belly was 7 ppm and 28.6 ppm, respectively (1). Commercial mouthwashes and lozenges contain phenol at concns of 1.4-1.45% and 32.5 mg per lozenge (1). Phenol was identified, but not quantified, as a volatile in Mountain cheese (2), fried bacon (3), fried chicken (4), clams (6), short-necked clams (6), and coffee (5). Phenol concns of 1540, 39,100, 2400, and 256 ng/g were determined in the volatile component of Korean salt-fermented fish and shrimp pastes from a Korean market that were made from anchovy, big eyed herring, hair tail viscera, and shrimp, respectively (7). The volatile components of different meats of a commonly consumed crab in Asia (Charybdis feriatus) were investigated (8). It was determined that phenol concentrations (ug/kg dry weight) in the following crab meats were 9.1 (legs and claws), 12.0 (body), and 78.8 (carapace) (8). The volatile components of three commercial brands of fermented soybean curds were analyzed, and contained phenol concns of 5747.9, 6077.4, and 445.1 ug/kg, dry weight (9). Naturally occurring volatiles of Australian blue gum honey were isolated and the mean phenol concentration was 0.5 mg/kg (10). Volatile components in rotten mussels were isolated and measured to be 0.49 ug/g, wet weight (11).
What temperature does phenol decompose?
Phenol was identified during the thermal decomposition (500 °C) of 2 samples of polyvinylidene chloride, which is used as a food wrapping film, at concentrations of 22.6 and 27.8 ug/g of polymer heated (1). Phenol was found to be produces temperatures as low as 200 °C (1). Phenol was present in a sample of fresh poultry manure at 1.86 ppm (2). After the manure sat for 9 and 28 days at 27-28 °C, the concn of phenol rose to 28.0 and 68.1 ppm, respectively (2). It is thought that phenol is excreted as glucuronides and the phenol liberated by the action of microbes or enzymes afterwards (2). Phenol concns in emissions from burning softwood (fireplace), hardwood (fireplace), hardwood (wood stove) and synthetic log were 157.58, 246.81, 142.37, 8.56 mg/kg, respectively (3).
What happened to the phenol in Wisconsin?
Accidental spillage of 37, 900 L of 100% phenol in July 1974 caused chemical contamination of wells in a rural area of southern Wisconsin. Human illness characterized by diarrhea, mouth sores, dark urine and burning of the mouth was subsequently reported by 17 individuals who consumed the contaminated water; their estimated intake of phenol was 10-240 mg/person/day.
How long does it take for a phenol to kill?
Ingestion of as little as 4.8 g of pure phenol caused death in 10 min.
What is the lowest phenol concentration?
The phenol odor threshold of 19 people was measured and the lowest range of concentrations detected was 0.022-0.094 mg/cu m (0.006-0.024 ppm).
What is the chemical formula for phenol?
Phenol (also called carbolic acid) is an aromatic organic compound with the molecular formula C 6 H 5 OH. It is a white crystalline solid that is volatile. The molecule consists of a phenyl group (−C 6 H 5) bonded to a hydroxy group (−OH). Mildly acidic, it requires careful handling because it can cause chemical burns .
Why is phenol acidic?
Resonance structures of the phenoxide anion. One explanation for why phenol is more acidic than aliphatic compounds containing an -OH group is resonance stabilization of the phenoxide anion by the aromatic ring. In this way, the negative charge on oxygen is delocalized on to the ortho and para carbon atoms through the pi system.
What is the precursor to polycarbonates?
Condensation with acetone gives bisphenol-A, a key precursor to polycarbonates and epoxide resins. Condensation of phenol, alkylphenols, or diphenols with formaldehyde gives phenolic resins, a famous example of which is Bakelite. Partial hydrogenation of phenol gives cyclohexanone, a precursor to nylon.
What is the route analogous to cumene?
It is oxidized to a hydroperoxide, akin to the production of cumene hydroperoxide. Via the Hock rearrangement, cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide cleaves to give phenol and cyclohexanone. Cyclohexanone is an important precursor to some nylons.
What is reduced to benzene when distilled with zinc dust?
Phenol is reduced to benzene when it is distilled with zinc dust or when its vapour is passed over granules of zinc at 400 °C: C 6 H 5 OH + Zn → C 6 H 6 + ZnO. When phenol is reacted with diazomethane in the presence of boron trifluoride (BF 3 ), anisole is obtained as the main product and nitrogen gas as a byproduct.
How much phenol is in scotch?
Phenol is a measurable component in the aroma and taste of the distinctive Islay scotch whisky, generally ~30 ppm, but it can be over 160ppm in the malted barley used to produce whisky. This amount is different from and presumably higher than the amount in the distillate.
When was phenol discovered?
Phenol was discovered in 1834 by Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, who extracted it (in impure form) from coal tar. Runge called phenol "Karbolsäure" (coal-oil-acid, carbolic acid). Coal tar remained the primary source until the development of the petrochemical industry. In 1841, the French chemist Auguste Laurent obtained phenol in pure form.
What is phenol used for?
Phenol is used primarily in the production of phenolic resins and in the manufacture of nylon and other synthetic fibers. It is also used in slimicides (chemicals that kill bacteria and fungi in slimes), as a disinfectant and antiseptic, and in medicinal preparations such as mouthwash and sore throat lozenges.
What is toxicological profile?
Toxicological Profile - Succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for a hazardous substance. [116 KB] - Quick reference guide providing information such as chemical and physical properties, sources of exposure, routes of exposure, minimal risk levels, children's health, and health effects for a substance.
Is phenol a chemical?
Chemical Classification: Phenols/phenoxy acids. Summary: Phenol is both a manufactured chemical and a natural substance. It is a colorless-to-white solid when pure. The commercial product is a liquid. Phenol has a distinct odor that is sickeningly sweet and tarry. You can taste and smell phenol at levels lower than those ...
What is the smell of acetone?
odor: Sharp and acetone-like and fruity, phenolic and fishy with a chemical glue nuance
What does a smoky bacon smell like?
odor: Chemical tar-like, phenolic, smoky, tobacco, slightly pungent with a hint of black licorice drops, leather, cade oil and smoky bacon meaty
What is the smell of a sourdough bread?
odor: Sweet, naphthyl, phenolic, smoke, bacon and Iysol-like
What is the smell of meat?
odor: Meaty, phenolic, sulfuraceous, with a rubbery allicious backnote
What is the flavor of root beer?
flavor: Sweet, salicylate and root beer with aromatic and balsamic nuances
What are the symptoms of phenol?
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea are common symptoms after exposure to phenol by any route. Ingestion of phenol can also cause severe corrosive injury to the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach, with bleeding, perforation, scarring, or stricture formation as potential sequelae.
What is phenol in air?
At room temperature, phenol is a translucent, colorless, crystalline mass, white powder, or thick, syrupy liquid. The crystals are hygroscopic and turn pink to red in air. When pure, phenol has a sweet, tar-like odor that is readily detected at low concentrations (0.05 ppm in air). Phenol is soluble in alcohol, glycerol, petroleum, and, to a lesser extent, water. Phenol is designated as "Poison B" by the Department of Transportation (DOT), but no special containers are required due to its modest fire hazard and low reactivity.
What is phenol poisoning?
As a corrosive substance, phenol denatures proteins and generally acts as a protoplasmic poison. Phenol may also cause peripheral nerve damage (i.e., demyelination of axons). Systemic poisoning can occur after inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, or ingestion. Typically, transient CNS excitation occurs, then profound CNS depression ensues rapidly. Damage to the nervous system is the primary cause of death from phenol poisoning. However, damage to other organ systems (e.g., acid-base imbalance and acute kidney failure) may complicate the condition. Symptoms may be delayed for up to 18 hours after exposure.
How much phenol is fatal?
Accidental and intentional ingestions of phenol have been reported. As little as 50 to 500 mg has been fatal in infants. Deaths in adults have resulted after ingestions of 1 to 32 g.
What happens if you put phenol on your skin?
When phenol is applied directly to the skin, a white covering of precipitated protein form s. This soon turns red and eventually sloughs, leaving the surface stained slightly brown. If phenol is left on the skin, it will penetrate rapidly and lead to cell death and gangrene. If more than 60 square inches of skin are affected, there is risk of imminent death. Phenol appears to have local anesthetic properties and can cause extensive damage before pain is felt.
What happens if you take phenol?
Phenol exposure causes initial blood pressure elevation, then progressively severe low blood pressure and shock. Cardiac arrhythmia and bradycardia have also been reported following dermal exposure to phenol.
Can phenol cause burns?
Even dilute solutions (1% to 2%) may cause severe burns if contact is prolonged. Systemic toxicity can result from skin or eye exposures. Phenol vapor and liquid penetrate the skin with an absorption efficiency approximately equal to the absorption efficiency by inhalation. In one case, death occurred within 30 minutes after skin contact.
What is phenol in plants?
Plant-based compounds containing phenol are known to be antioxidants . This means that they can stop the reaction of free radicals with other molecules in your body, preventing damage to your DNA as well as long-term health effects.
What is phenol derivative?
Phenol derivatives. Phenol-derived compounds have a variety of uses, including: Chemical peels. Phenol in trichloroacetic acid is used to penetrate through layers of skin to get rid of old or damaged skin. Food and cosmetic preservatives.
What is phenol used for?
Pure phenol is used in certain medical procedures and as an ingredient in numerous treatments and laboratory applications.
What is the name of the compound that replaces phenol?
One derivative is n-hexylresorcinol, which can be found in cough drops. The compound, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), replaced phenol as a food antioxidant.
What is the purpose of phenol chloroform?
The phenol-chloroform mixture separates molecules based on how soluble the tissue sample is in that solution. The pH level of phenol helps separate the DNA and RNA.
How long can you use phenol for throat pain?
But throat sprays and antiseptic liquids shouldn’t be used for more than a couple days at a time. And if you’re having symptoms like fever and vomiting, see a doctor.
Is phenol spray safe for kids?
Phenol spray is safe to use at the recommend dose for a short time. But using too much or giving it to children younger than 3-years old can be unsafe. Read the ingredients label carefully to make sure you’re not allergic to any other components of the spray.
What is the IDLH of cresol?
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on an analogy with cresol which has an IDLH of 250 ppm.
Is phenol a lethal drug?
Human data : It has been stated that the toxicity of phenol is closely related to that of cresol [ACGIH 1991]. It has been reported that 14 to 140 mg/kg is the lethal oral dose [Deichmann and Gerarde 1969; Lefaux 1978]. [Note: An oral dose of 14 to 140 mg/kg is equivalent to a 70-kg worker being exposed to 167 to 1,670 ppm for 30 minutes, assuming a breathing rate of 50 liters per minute and 100% absorption.]
Is phenol toxic to humans?
Exposure to phenol may occur from the use of some medicinal products (including throat lozenges andointments). Phenol is highly irritating to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes in humans after acute(short-term) inhalation or dermal exposures. Phenol is considered to be quite toxic to humans via oralexposure. Anorexia, progressive weight loss, diarrhea, vertigo, salivation, a dark coloration of the urine,and blood and liver effects have been reported in chronically (long-term) exposed humans. Animal studieshave reported reduced fetal body weights, growth retardation, and abnormal development in the offspringof animals exposed to phenol by the oral route. EPA has classified phenol as a Group D, not classifiable asto human carcinogenicity.
Can phenol be detected in urine?
Phenol can be detected in urine; this test can be used to determine whether a person has recently been exposed to phenol or to substances that are changed to phenol in the body. However, no test will tell whether a person has been exposed only to phenol, because many substances are changed to phenol in the body. (1)
Is phenol a solid or liquid?
Phenol is a colorless or white solid when it is pure; however, it is usually sold and used as a liquid. (1)The odor threshold for phenol is 0.04 parts per million (ppm), with a strong very sweet odor reported. (1,7)Phenol is very soluble in water and is quite flammable. (2)The chemical formula for phenol is C6H6O and the molecular weight is 94.1 g/mol. (8,9)

Overview
Phenol (also called carbolic acid) is an aromatic organic compound with the molecular formula C6H5OH. It is a white crystalline solid that is volatile. The molecule consists of a phenyl group (−C6H5) bonded to a hydroxy group (−OH). Mildly acidic, it requires careful handling because it can cause chemical burns.
Phenol was first extracted from coal tar, but today is produced on a large scale (about 7 billion k…
Properties
Phenol is an organic compound appreciably soluble in water, with about 84.2 g dissolving in 1000 mL (0.895 M). Homogeneous mixtures of phenol and water at phenol to water mass ratios of ~2.6 and higher are possible. The sodium salt of phenol, sodium phenoxide, is far more water-soluble.
Phenol is a weak acid. In aqueous solution in the pH range ca. 8 - 12 it is in eq…
Production
Because of phenol's commercial importance, many methods have been developed for its production, but the cumene process is the dominant technology.
Accounting for 95% of production (2003) is the cumene process, also called Hock process. It involves the partial oxidation of cumene (isopropylbenzene) via …
Uses
The major uses of phenol, consuming two thirds of its production, involve its conversion to precursors for plastics. Condensation with acetone gives bisphenol-A, a key precursor to polycarbonates and epoxide resins. Condensation of phenol, alkylphenols, or diphenols with formaldehyde gives phenolic resins, a famous example of which is Bakelite. Partial hydrogenation of phenol gives cyclohexanone, a precursor to nylon. Nonionic detergents are produced by alkylatio…
History
Phenol was discovered in 1834 by Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, who extracted it (in impure form) from coal tar. Runge called phenol "Karbolsäure" (coal-oil-acid, carbolic acid). Coal tar remained the primary source until the development of the petrochemical industry. In 1841, the French chemist Auguste Laurent obtained phenol in pure form.
In 1836, Auguste Laurent coined the name "phène" for benzene; this is the root of the word "phen…
Occurrences
Phenol is a normal metabolic product, excreted in quantities up to 40 mg/L in human urine.
The temporal gland secretion of male elephants showed the presence of phenol and 4-methylphenol during musth.
It is also one of the chemical compounds found in castoreum. This compound is ingested from the plants the beaver eats.
Biodegradation
Cryptanaerobacter phenolicus is a bacterium species that produces benzoate from phenol via 4-hydroxybenzoate. Rhodococcus phenolicus is a bacterium species able to degrade phenol as sole carbon source.
Toxicity
Phenol and its vapors are corrosive to the eyes, the skin, and the respiratory tract. Its corrosive effect on skin and mucous membranes is due to a protein-degenerating effect. Repeated or prolonged skin contact with phenol may cause dermatitis, or even second and third-degree burns. Inhalation of phenol vapor may cause lung edema. The substance may cause harmful effects on the central nervous system and heart, resulting in dysrhythmia, seizures, and coma. The kidneys m…