Question

Phenol is used as
(a) an antisptic (b) a disinfectant
(c) both (a) and (b) (d) a styptic

Answer 1

Answer:

(a) an antisptic and (b) a disinfectant.

(a) and (b).

Answer 2

Phenol is commonly used as – here the correct option has to be option (b).

Explanation:

Now you have to keep in mind that when we are speaking of uses of phenols, we are more concerned about its wide applications.

• One of the most important points to keep in mind is that Phenol is an organic compound. It is poisonous by property so it cannot be directly used as oral supplement or on open wounds.

• Phenol is widely used as a good form of household disinfectant. It is used in cleaning bathroom tiles and other tiles and to disinfect the place.

• It has a very pleasing but strong essence.

• There have been evidences from the past that phenol was also used by local farmers to disinfect their fields and to sterilize it.

• But so far there have been no such applications where phenol might have been used to sterilize open wounds or to treat and living organism.

• It cannot be styptic by nature as it is poisonous and thus cannot be applied to open bleeding wounds.

So looking at all the options provided I would say that very commonly phenol is widely used as a common household disinfectant. So the right option is (b).