Identify the product ' B ' in the following series of reactions. Chlorobenzene i) NaOH , 623 ~K / 150 ~atm ii) H ₃ O ⁺ A Br ₂ water B

Step-by-step solution

Chlorobenzene undergoes nucleophilic aromatic substitution under high-temperature alkaline conditions to form sodium phenoxide, which is acidified to yield phenol (A): C ₆ H ₅ Cl i) NaOH, 623 K/150 atm C ₆ H ₅ ONa ii) H ₃ O ^+ C ₆ H ₅ OH Phenol reacts with bromine water, forming a white precipitate of 2,4,6-tribromophenol (B): C ₆ H ₅ OH + 3 Br ₂ C ₆ H ₂ Br ₃ OH + 3 HBr The hydroxyl group activates the aromatic ring and directs electrophilic substitution to the ortho and para positions, resulting in tribromination.