Identify the reagents X , Y and Z used to bring out the following reactions.

Step-by-step solution

The conversion of 2-phenylpropane (cumene) to phenol ( C₆H₅OH ) is a standard industrial process known as the cumene process. In this process, cumene is first oxidized to cumene hydroperoxide using air (or O₂ ), followed by acid-catalyzed cleavage using dilute H₂SO₄ to yield phenol and acetone. Thus, X = Air and Y = dil. H₂SO₄ . The second step involves the oxidation of phenol to p-benzoquinone. This transformation is typically achieved using strong oxidizing agents such as chromic acid ( H₂CrO₄ ) or dichromate ion