This section is from the book "Laboratory Manual Of Pharmacology", by A. D. Bush. Also available from Amazon: Laboratory manual of pharmacology.
Phenol is hydroxybenzene. It is customarily obtained from coal-tar by securing the oils boiling at 1820 C, purifying, and redistilling. It is also made synthetically from benzene or from aniline. It should contain not less than 97% C6H5OH. Its solution in water is the official Phenol Liquefactum (=87% C6H5OH).
Properties:
Appearance | Color | Odor | Taste | |
Phenol | Do not taste | |||
Phenol Liquefactum | 1 to 100 dilut. |
Gently heat some of the Phenol crystals..............................................................................................................................
Incompatibilities: To Phenol T. S. add
Albumin, T. S..................................................................................... | K2Mn04, T. S..................................................................................... |
Chloral Hyd.......................................................................................... | Na2HP04, T. S. ... _............................................. |
1 gt. FeCl3 .............................................................. |
Phenol is used as an antiseptic and disinfectant in 1% to 5% solutions. Locally it indurates and benumbs the skin. If used in too strong solutions, it will cauterize, and may produce gangrene. It has no well-defined internal utility.
 
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