Read the passage carefully and answer the Questions.
Alcohols and phenols are obtained when a hydrogen atom in aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons respectively, is replaced by - OH group. These compounds find wide applications in industry as well as in our daily life. You may notice that ordinary spirit is used for polishing wooden furniture which is chiefly a compound containing hydroxyl group. An alcohol contains one or more hydroxyl (OH) group(s) directly attached to carbon atom(s), of an aliphatic system (\( CH_3OH \)) while a phenol contains -OH group(s) directly attached to carbon atom(s) of an aromatic system (\( C_6H_5OH \)). Alcohols are prepared by the hydration of alkenes, fermentation of glucose, and reduction of carbonyl compounds. Alcohols produce alkenes upon dehydration whereas alkenes on acid catalyzed hydration convert into alcohols.
Which of the following compounds lacks phenolic group?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Cyclohexanol
A phenolic group is an –OH group attached directly to a carbon atom of a benzene (aromatic) ring, that is, to an sp2 ring carbon. An –OH group on an sp3 carbon of a saturated chain or ring makes the compound an alcohol, not a phenol.
Cyclohexanol, \( \ce{C6H11OH} \), has its –OH group on a carbon of cyclohexane, a saturated ring with no aromatic character. It is a secondary alcohol, so it lacks a phenolic group.
Option (1) Quinol — Has a phenolic group. Quinol (hydroquinone) is benzene-1,4-diol; both –OH groups sit on the benzene ring.
Option (2) Cyclohexanol — Lacks a phenolic group. Its –OH group is on an sp3 carbon of a saturated ring, so it is an alcohol.
Option (3) Catechol — Has a phenolic group. Catechol is benzene-1,2-diol, with two –OH groups on the ring.
Option (4) Picric acid — Has a phenolic group. Picric acid is 2,4,6-trinitrophenol; its –OH group is on the ring, and the three nitro groups make it strongly acidic.
NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Phenols – …
