Cumene to phenol: where does the rest go?
"Cumene to phenol: where does the rest go?" is a free, interactive Class 12 Chemistry simulation for NEET and JEE, built on the NCERT section "Preparing phenols" in Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers. The cumene process as a stepped pathway with a mass bar: cumene + O₂ → hydroperoxide → phenol + acetone, 120 g + 32 g → 94 g + 58 g. NEET has asked about this idea 2 times in 10 years of papers. JEE Main asked 34 questions from this chapter across the 42 shifts Lumi has analysed (2017–2026).
From the lesson Preparing phenols in Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers. Change the values and watch what happens.
What it shows
NCERT §7.4.2
The cumene process as a stepped pathway with a mass bar: cumene + O₂ → hydroperoxide → phenol + acetone, 120 g + 32 g → 94 g + 58 g.
Controls
3 to try
- Buttonnext step (air oxidation, acid cleavage)
- Slidercumene fed 0–500 g
- Readoutsintermediate, masses of phenol and acetone
Try this
Feed enough cumene to make exactly 188 g of phenol and read the acetone formed.
Common mistake
Cumene gives phenol only (forgetting acetone)
In NEET
10 years of papers
Asked 2 times in 10 years of NEET.
See the past questions: Alcohols and Phenols, Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers (chapter)
In JEE Main
42 shifts analysed
34 questions from Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers across the 42 JEE Main shifts Lumi has analysed (2017–2026).
The idea behind it
NCERT §7.4.2
- Phenol (carbolic acid) was originally obtained from coal tar, early in the nineteenth century. Today most of it is made synthetically.
- From haloarenes: chlorobenzene is fused with NaOH at 623 K and 320 atm to give sodium phenoxide, and acidifying the phenoxide gives phenol.
- From benzenesulphonic acid: benzene is sulphonated with oleum, the sulphonic acid is heated with molten sodium hydroxide to give sodium phenoxide, and acid then liberates phenol.
- From diazonium salts: an aromatic primary amine treated with nitrous acid (NaNO₂ + HCl) at 273–278 K forms a diazonium salt, which is hydrolysed to phenol by warming with water or dilute acid.
- From cumene: cumene (isopropylbenzene) is oxidised by air to cumene hydroperoxide, and dilute acid converts this into phenol and acetone.
- The cumene route supplies most of the world's phenol, and its second product, acetone, is also sold in large amounts.
Questions
5 answers
- What does the "Cumene to phenol: where does the rest go?" simulation show?
- The cumene process as a stepped pathway with a mass bar: cumene + O₂ → hydroperoxide → phenol + acetone, 120 g + 32 g → 94 g + 58 g.
- What mistake does the "Cumene to phenol: where does the rest go?" simulation fix?
- A common mistake it clears up: cumene gives phenol only (forgetting acetone)
- Has NEET asked about this idea?
- Yes. NEET has asked about this idea 2 times in 10 years of papers.
- Does JEE Main ask questions from Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers?
- Yes. JEE Main asked 34 questions from this chapter across the 42 shifts Lumi has analysed (2017–2026).
- Is this simulation free?
- Yes. It is free and runs in the browser on a phone or a laptop. It belongs to the lesson "Preparing phenols" in Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers (Class 12 Chemistry).
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