Question

While separating a mixture of ortho and para nitrophenol by steam distillation name the isomer which is steam volatile?

Answer 1

While separating a mixture of ortho and para nitrophenols by steam distillation, name the isomer which will be steam volatile. Give reason. Intramolecular H-bonding is present in o-nitrophenol. In p-nitrophenol, the molecules are strongly associated due to the presence of intermolecular bonding.

Answer 2

$\huge\textcolor{red}{\texttt{Answer :-}}$

$o-$Nitrophenol is steam volatile due to chelation because of intramolecular hydrogen bonding. On the other hand , $p-$nitrophenol is not steam volatile because of intermolecular hydrogen bonding.

Hence, $o-$nitrophenol can be separated from $p-$nitrophenol by steam distillation.