Why is phenol more soluble in water than toluene ?

1 Answer
anor277
Dec 12, 2015

What functional group does phenol, #C_6H_5OH#, contain that toluene, #C_6H_5CH_3#, does not?

Explanation:

If you have answered that question, what functional group does water contain? Why should the common functional groups promote miscibility?

As a physical scientist you should actually look up these physical properties. Also, you should look up the respective respective boiling points of phenol and toluene. Why should phenol be more involatile than toluene? Can you reconcile this with the solubility of phenol in water?

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