Question

what's the difference between benzyl alcohol and phenol?

Answer 1

In benzyl alcohol, the alcohol group is on the benzylic carbon, i.e., a carbon atom attached to the ring and not in the ring.

In phenol, alcohol group is directly attached to an atom in the benzene ring.

Answer 2

benzyl alcohol is C7H8O and phenol is C6H6O the -OH group in phenol is directly attached to benzene, but in benzyl alcohol the -OH group is attached on -CH2- which is directly attached to benzene.