[Steenrod]

While trying to distinguish between phenol and salicylic acid, I did the following(theoretically!):

Salicyclic acid+Methanol in presence of conc. sulphuric acid gives the oil of wintergreen with characteristic smell . But how does phenol react?

[discodermolide]

Think about the properties of phenol, does it react with acids?

[Steenrod]

Thanks, got it.

[zhangcarlin]

but ithink you can dissolve both of them in Sat. Sodium bicarbonae. Phenol could not dissolve, but salicylic acid reacts with it, emitting bubbles