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Phenol, also known as carbolic acid, is a colorless crystalline solid that is used in the production of plastics, dyes, disinfectants, and antiseptics. It was first used as an antiseptic in 1867 and is still used in various products today. Phenol is toxic and corrosive and can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or ingested, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Carbolic acid, more commonly called phenol, is a compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen with the chemical formula C6H5OH. The six carbon atoms are arranged in a ring, with one hydroxyl group (OH) bonded to one carbon atom and one hydrogen atom bonded to each of the other five. This ring structure is known as a benzene ring, named after the compound benzene, which has a similar structure, but with hydrogen atoms bonded to all six carbon atoms. Pure phenol is a colorless crystalline solid that melts at 107.6°F (42°C) and is quite soluble in water.
The term carbolic acid can refer to either the pure compound or a solution in water. It is a weak acid, which dissociates into the phenoxide anion and hydrogen cation only to a limited extent in aqueous solution. Carbolic acid should not be confused with carbonic acid, which is the weak acid that forms when carbon dioxide dissolves in water.
Phenol is the basis for a large number of naturally occurring organic compounds, known as phenols. Quinone and related compounds, for example, are involved in the transport of electrons within living cells. Anthocyanins act as antioxidants in plant tissue and combine with sugars to produce red, blue, and purple pigments called anthocyanins, which are partly responsible for colorful fall leaves. Polyphenols are complex molecules found in plants and contain many phenolic units; they include tannins, known for their antioxidant properties.
Carbolic acid was first extracted from coal tar, but as of 2011, most of it is made from cumene, a component of crude oil. The compound has strong antimicrobial properties and one of its earliest uses was as an antiseptic. It was introduced in 1867 by British surgeon Joseph Lister, who used it in diluted solutions to sterilize surgical wounds and tools, greatly improving the survival rates of patients undergoing surgery. It was also used in “coal tar soap” up until the 1970s and is still used in various antiseptic and pharmaceutical products.
Among the major uses of carbolic acid today is the production of plastics. Bakelite, an early plastic, was first produced from phenol and formaldehyde in 1907. Carbolic acid is now used in the synthesis of many plastics, including polycarbonates, epoxies, and nylon. Other uses include making dyes, disinfectants, and antiseptics.
Although many compounds that are essential or beneficial to life are based on phenolic groups, carbolic acid itself is toxic and corrosive. It is volatile and is readily absorbed through the skin, so inhalation and skin contact as well as ingestion are possible routes of exposure. The vapor irritates the respiratory tract and high concentrations can cause lung damage.
Skin contact causes white discoloration followed by burns which can be severe – these may not be painful initially, due to the anesthetic effects of the compound. Symptoms of carbolic acid poisoning include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, as well as small, dark-colored urine and thirst. Other symptoms include sweating, rapid pulse, seizures and coma.
