What is the primary organic product formed when phenol is treated with zinc dust under high-temperature distillation conditions?

💡 Solution & Explanation

When phenol is heated with zinc dust, the zinc abstracts the oxygen atom from the phenolic hydroxyl group, reducing phenol to form benzene and zinc oxide as a byproduct. Other alternatives like toluene or benzoic acid contain additional carbon substituents or functional groups not generated in this reduction. This classic deoxygenation reaction is widely used in organic synthesis to convert phenolic compounds into parent aromatic hydrocarbons. A related laboratory test for phenols involves the use of neutral ferric chloride to produce a characteristic violet coloration.