Question

Treatment of compound Ph-O-C-Ph with NaOH solution yield :-

• A. Phenol
• B. Sodium phenoxide
• C. Sodium benzoate
• D. Benzophenone

Answer 1

Answer: (B), (C)

Sodium phenoxide, Sodium benzoate

Answer 2

The compound Ph-O-C-Ph is phenyl benzoate, an ester. When treated with NaOH solution, it undergoes saponification (basic hydrolysis). The ester linkage breaks to form the phenoxide ion (Ph-O⁻) and the benzoate ion (Ph-COO⁻). In the presence of NaOH, these ions exist as their sodium salts: sodium phenoxide (Ph-ONa) and sodium benzoate (Ph-COONa). Phenol is acidic and will be deprotonated by NaOH to form sodium phenoxide, so phenol itself is not the final product. Benzophenone is not formed from this reaction.