NEETChemistryAlcohols Phenols and Ethers
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): The commercial preparation of phenol from cumene is highly significant because it yields two valuable products, phenol and acetone, in large quantities. Reason (R): The intermediate cumene hydroperoxide undergoes acid-catalyzed cleavage to produce exactly one molecule of phenol and one molecule of
Options
- ABoth (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- BBoth (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
- C(A) is correct but (R) is not correct
- D(A) is not correct but (R) is correct
Correct answer
A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Step-by-step solution
Assertion (A) is correct because the cumene process is the preferred commercial method for manufacturing phenol, largely due to the simultaneous production of acetone, which is also a highly valuable solvent and chemical intermediate. Reason (R) is correct and explains (A). The oxidation of cumene yields cumene hydroperoxide. When this intermediate is treated with dilute acid, it undergoes cleavage such that every molecule of the hydroperoxide yields one molecule of phenol and one molecule of acetone. This 1:1 stoi