Question

(i) Why is the Dipole moment of methanol higher than that of phenol? 

(ii) Explain why phenols do not undergo substitution of the –OH group like alcohols. 

Answer 1

(i) Due to electron withdrawing effect of phenyl group, the C— O bond in phenol is less polar, whereas in case of methanol the methyl group has electron releasing effect and hence C—O bond in it is more polar. 

(ii) C—O bond in phenols has partial double bond character due to resonance and hence is difficult to cleave.