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Question: o-nitrophenol can be easily steam distilled whereas p- nitrophenol cannot be. This is because of: ...

o-nitrophenol can be easily steam distilled whereas p- nitrophenol cannot be. This is because of:
A) Strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding in o-nitrophenol.
B) Strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding in o-nitrophenol.
C) Strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding in p-nitrophenol.
D) dipole moment of p-nitrophenol is larger than that of o-nitrophenol.

Explanation

Solution

We have to know that the phenol is one of the mono substituent benzene compounds. Each mono-substituted moiety has three named positions in the ring. In the ring a nearby mono substituent group is called ortho position, that means two ortho positions are in the ring, because of the left and right side of the substituent group. The alternatively position of the substituent group in the ring is called meta position, here also two meta positions possible in the left and right side of the substituent group. Para position is nothing but directly opposite to the substituent group in the ring. Electrophilic substitutions are attacked in ortho and para position in the ring.

Complete answer:
o-nitrophenol can be easily steam distilled whereas p- nitrophenol cannot be. This is because of Strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding in o-nitrophenol.
o-nitrophenol and p- nitrophenol can be easily separated by steam distilled due to hydrogen bonding.
o-nitrophenol is easily volatile in steam, because it has strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding. This kind of strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding gives freeness of molecules. In one o-nitrophenol don’t have any bond in other o-nitrophenol.
p- nitrophenol cannot be easily volatile in steam, because it has strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding. This kind of strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding gives strong binding of molecules. In one p-nitrophenol have strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds in other p-nitrophenol.
According to the above discussion we conclude, o-nitrophenol can be easily steam distilled whereas p- nitrophenol cannot be. This is because of Strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding in o-nitrophenol.

Hence, option B is correct.

Note:
We have to know that in organic chemistry benzene is one of the important compounds. It is one of the aromatic compounds. The molecular formula of benzene is C6H6{{\text{C}}_{\text{6}}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{6}}}. Phenol is one of the derivatives of benzene. I simply said phenol is one of the aromatic alcohols. Hydrogen bonds are also one of the important bonds in chemistry. Without hydrogen bonds nothing in the world. There are two types of hydrogen bonds. There are intermolecular hydrogen bonds and intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen bond is dependent on the most electronegativity atom in the molecule.