Question

Assertion (A): Chlorobenzene is not formed in the reaction of phenol with thionyl chloride. Reason (R): In phenol, carbon-oxygen bond has partial double bond character.

• (A) and (R) are correct. (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
• (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
• (A) is correct but (R) is not correct
• (A) is not correct but (R) is correct

Hint:

Phenol's C-O bond is strengthened by resonance, making it resistant to nucleophilic substitution.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Phenol does not react with SOCl\(_2\) because the C-O bond in phenol has partial double bond character due to resonance. This prevents the replacement of -OH with -Cl, unlike in aliphatic alcohols. Since resonance explains the non-reactivity, (R) correctly explains (A).