MHT CET Chemistry Question (2026) — Solution

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A phenol is a compound in which a hydroxyl group (-OH) is directly attached to an sp^2 hybridized carbon atom of an aromatic ring. In the first option, the -OH group is directly attached to the benzene ring (o-nitrophenol), so it is a phenol. In the second option, the -OH group is directly attached to the naphthalene ring (2-naphthol), so it is considered a phenolic compound. In the third option, the -OH group is directly attached to the benzene ring (o-bromophenol), so it is a phenol. In the fourth option, the -OH group is attached to an sp^3 hybridized carbon atom of a side chain (-CH_2OH), not directly to the aromatic ring. This compound is benzyl alcohol, which is an aromatic alcohol but not a phenol. Answer: