One mole of phenol is treated with dilute HNO ₃ at 298 K to give a mixture of products. The mixture is separated by steam distillation. The steam volatile compound (X) is separated. The increase in percentage of oxygen in (X) with respect to phenol is _____ 10⁻¹ % (Given molar mass in g mol ⁻¹ H: 1 , C: 12 , N: 14 , O: 16 )

Step-by-step solution

When phenol is treated with dilute HNO ₃ at 298 K , it undergoes electrophilic aromatic substitution to give a mixture of ortho-nitrophenol and para-nitrophenol. The mixture is separated by steam distillation. Ortho-nitrophenol is steam volatile due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding, whereas para-nitrophenol is not steam volatile due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Thus, the steam volatile compound (X) is ortho-nitrophenol. Molecular formula of phenol: C ₆ H ₆ O Molar mass of phenol = (6 12) + (6 1) + 16 = 94