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Phenols, sometimes called phenolics, are a class of chemical compounds consisting of a hydroxyl functional group (-OH) attached to an aromatic hydrocarbon group. The simplest of the class is phenol (C6H5OH). Although similar to alcohols, phenols have unique properties including relatively higher acidities due to the aromatic ring tightly coupling with the oxygen and a relatively loose bond between the oxygen and hydrogen. The acidity of the hydroxyl group in phenols is commonly intermediate between aliphatic alcohols and carboxylic acids. Loss of a positive hydrogen from the hydroxyl group of a phenol forms a negative phenolate ion.
Phenols are often germicidal and are sometimes used in formulating disinfectants.
Many phenolic compounds possess estrogenic activity.
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