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What is the Difference Between Ortho and Para Nitrophenol

August 19, 2021 Posted by Madhu

The key difference between ortho and para nitrophenol is that ortho nitrophenol molecule contains a -OH group and a -NO2 group attached to the 1 and 2 positions of the benzene ring, whereas para nitrophenol compound contains a -OH group attached to 1 and 4 positions of the benzene ring.

Ortho and para nitrophenol are aromatic organic compounds having -OH and -NO2 groups as substitutes in a benzene ring.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Nitrophenol 
3. What is Ortho Nitrophenol 
4. What is Para Nitrophenol
5. Similarities – Ortho and Para Nitrophenol
6. Ortho vs Para Nitrophenol  in Tabular Form
7. Summary – Ortho vs Para Nitrophenol

What is Nitrophenol?

Nitrophenol is an organic compound having a benzene ring attached to a -OH group and -NO2 group to two carbon atoms of the benzene ring. Therefore, they have the chemical formula HOC6H5-x(NO2)x. These are the conjugate bases of nitrophenolates. The nitrophenol compounds are usually more acidic than phenols. Also, there are two types of nitrophenol: they are mono-nitrophenols and di-nitrophenols. Mono-nitrophenols contain one -NO2 group per molecule while there are two -NO2 groups in a di-nitrophenol molecule. We can name them as ortho, para or meta nitrophenols according to the position of the -OH group and -NO2 group in this molecule.

What is Ortho Nitrophenol?

Ortho nitrophenol is an organic compound having a benzene ring attached with a -OH group and a -NO2 group at 1 and 2 positions of the benzene ring. In other words, this compound has its substituted groups attached to the adjacent/neighboring carbon atoms. It occurs as a yellow crystalline solid.

Ortho vs Para Nitrophenol in Tabular Form

Figure 01: The Chemical Structure of Ortho Nitrophenol

What is Para Nitrophenol?

Para nitrophenol is an organic compound having a benzene ring attached to a -OH group and a -NO2 group at 1 and 4 positions of the benzene ring. Therefore, the substituted groups are not attached to the adjacent carbon atoms.

Ortho and Para Nitrophenol - Side by Side Comparison

Figure 02: The Chemical Structure of Para Nitrophenol

Para nitrophenol occurs as yellow crystals and it is important as a precursor to the rice herbicide fluorodifen, parathion (a pesticide), and also the paracetamol (a human analgesic).

What are the Similarities Between Ortho and Para Nitrophenol?

  1. Both ortho and para nitrophenol are aromatic organic compounds.
  2. They appear as yellow crystals.
  3. Both compounds contain -OH and -NO2 groups as substitutes for benzene rings.

What is the Difference Between Ortho and Para Nitrophenol?

Ortho and para nitrophenol are isomers of nitrophenol organic molecules. Ortho nitrophenol is an organic compound having a benzene ring attached with a -OH group and a -NO2 group at 1 and 2 positions of the benzene ring, while para nitrophenol is an organic compound having a benzene ring attached with a -OH group and a -NO2 group at 1 and 4 positions of the benzene ring.

Therefore, the key difference between ortho and para nitrophenol is that ortho nitrophenol molecule contains -OH group and -NO2 group attached to the 1 and 2 positions of the benzene ring whereas para nitrophenol compound contains -OH group attached to 1 and 4 positions of the benzene ring. While para nitrophenol molecules have a symmetry axis, ortho nitrophenol molecules do not.

The following table summarizes the difference between ortho and para nitrophenol.

Summary – Ortho vs Para Nitrophenol

Ortho and para nitrophenol are isomers of nitrophenol organic molecules. The key difference between ortho and para nitrophenol is that ortho nitrophenol molecule contains -OH group and -NO2 group attached to the 1 and 2 positions of the benzene ring whereas para nitrophenol compound contains -OH group attached to 1 and 4 positions of the benzene ring.

Reference:

1. “4-Nitrophenol.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. “Nitrophenol.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
3. “2-Nitrophenol.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Image Courtesy:

1. “O-Nitrophenol” By NEUROtiker – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “4-Nitrophenol acsv” By Calvero – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

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Difference Between Benzene and PhenolDifference Between Benzene and Phenol Difference Between Carbonyl and KetoneDifference Between Carbonyl and Ketone Difference Between Binary Acids and OxyacidsDifference Between Binary Acids and Oxyacids What is SucraloseDifference Between Saccharin and Sucralose Free Radical Substitution vs Free Radical AdditionDifference Between Free Radical Substitution and Free Radical Addition

Filed Under: Organic Chemistry

About the Author: Madhu

Madhu is a graduate in Biological Sciences with BSc (Honours) Degree and currently persuing a Masters Degree in Industrial and Environmental Chemistry. With a mind rooted firmly to basic principals of chemistry and passion for ever evolving field of industrial chemistry, she is keenly interested to be a true companion for those who seek knowledge in the subject of chemistry.

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