When working in my Lab with p-nitrophenol ,I added some concentrated HCl and heated until it was fully dissolved. Then I cooled it in ice bath and found a white salt like compound which is not probably p-nitrophenol itself. I am totally puzzled about the reaction involved in that condition , what the product really is . Does anyone have any idea about the reaction occurred in that system ?
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$\begingroup$ Why do you think a reaction occurred? $\endgroup$– jerepierreApr 20, 2017 at 16:06
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$\begingroup$ How do you know your white solid is not p-nitrophenol? $\endgroup$– WaylanderApr 20, 2017 at 16:30
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$\begingroup$ Because the color and state of two solids were different.. p-nitrophenol that was given to me was crystalline and greenish. But the product was powder like crystal and white. That's why I was confused. $\endgroup$– Anwar Khan TanveerApr 23, 2017 at 10:49
1 Answer
No reaction has occurred, you have recrystallised p-nitrophenol! The white solid you have recovered is pure p-nitrophenol. P-nitrophenol is surprisingly soluble is hot water (33g/L at 40C) and crystallises out on cooling. There is no reaction that can take place with cHCl.