Phenol Hybridization
Phenol hybridization relates to the hybridization between carbon and oxygen molecules in the phenol atom. Phenol is generally known as benzenol or carbolic acid whose chemical formula is C6H5OH. It is a colorless aromatic organic compound that contains one hydroxyl group directly attached to the benzene ring.
The lone pair electron of the oxygen atom in the phenol molecule creates the resonance that contains an electron in the p orbital and it will be perpendicular to the plane of the benzene ring molecule. It will overlap with the p orbital of SP2 carbon attached to the oxygen atom. According to Trigonal planar geometry, the hybridization of oxygen atoms in phenol is SP2.
The three SP2 hybridized orbitals form a bond with the other molecule. One of the SP2 hybridized orbitals forms a bond with hydrogen other with the carbon atom of the benzene ring attached to oxygen and the other has a lone pair of electrons not participating in resonance. The unhybridized p-orbital of the oxygen atom has one more lone pair that is used for resonance.
Phenol solubility
Phenol contains a benzene ring which is hydrophobic (water-hating) in nature. It also contains a hydroxyl group (-OH) which has the ability to form intermolecular hydrogen bonding with water. As a result, it is soluble in water but partial in nature because of the presence of an aryl group (benzene ring).
On the other hand, Simple alcohol like ethanol does not contain any hydrophobic (water-hating) group like benzene ring. Alcohol contains a hydroxyl group (-OH) which has the ability to form intermolecular hydrogen bonding with water.
So, the solubility of phenol in water is less than alcohol.
Important to read
