Thursday, February 21, 2019

What is picric acid and why 2,4,6 tri-nitro phenol is called picric acid ?


What is picric acid? why 2,4,6 tri-nitro phenol  is called picric acid ?

2,4,6-tri-nitro phenol is generally known as picric acid. It is a very strong  organic acid. 2,4,6-trinitro phenol  contains three strong electron withdrawing nitro group. 

Hence , like other organic or inorganic  acid, it easily ionizes and gives ‘H+’ ion. Besides this, it decomposing carbonates like another acid and  the pKa value of 2,4,6-trinitro phenol  is 0.38.  

Consequently, 2,4,6-trinitro  phenol  is  also called picric acid. 













Preparation of picric acid :

There are different method  for preparation of picric acid. But picric acid is prepared commercially by first sulphonating  phenol and then nitrating the product.


Another commercial method  for the preparation of picric acid by  the nitration of chloro benzene  are as follows,

Properties of picric acid.

Picric acid is a yellow crystalline solid with a bitter taste. The melting point of picric acid is 122⁰C . it is a strong  acid  . The pKa value is 0.38. It  reacts with carbonate to form a salt sodium picrate. 

Picric acid also forms  CT complex known as picrates , with aromatic hydrocarbons, amines and phenols.

Why p-nitro phenol is stronger acid than m-nitro phenol ?

The strength of acid depends on the stability of the  concern anion of that acid . The  anion of both acid stabilized through resonance. 

But the resonating effect  is more effective in p-nitro phenoxide ion than  m-nitro phenoxide ion  due  to more number of resonating structure. 

Hence, p-nitro phenoxide ion  is more stable than the meta isomer. 

Consequently, Why p-nitro phenol is stronger acid than m-nitro phenol.


Why ortho-nitro phenol  is less acidic than para-nitro phenol ?

The strength of acid depends on the stability of the conjugate base of that acid. The conjugate base of p-nitro phenol gets stabilized  through resonance . 

However, the resonance  gets hindered in o-nitro phenoxide ion . Besides this, o-nitro phenol is less ionized due to formation of intra molecular H-bonding.  

For the above reason , ortho-nitro phenol  is less acidic than para-nitro phenol.

Summary : 

What is picric acid ? Why 2,4,6 tri-nitro phenol is called picric acid ?
Why p-nitro phenol is stronger acid than m-nitro phenol ? 
Why o-nitro phenol is less acidic than para isomer ? 

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