Sodium phenate reacts with acetyl chloride to form:

Question

Accepted Answer

Sodium phenate reacts with acetyl chloride to form phenyl acetate. Let's break down the reaction and explain why Option 3 is the correct answer.

### Explanation for Option 3: Phenyl Acetate

1. **Reaction Mechanism**: Sodium phenate (sodium salt of phenol) reacts with acetyl chloride through a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction. In this reaction, the phenoxide ion (from sodium phenate) acts as a nucleophile and attacks the carbonyl carbon of acetyl chloride. This leads to the formation of phenyl acetate and sodium chloride as a byproduct.

2. **Chemical Equation**:
   $$
   \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{ONa} + \text{CH}_3\text{COCl} \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{OCOCH}_3 + \text{NaCl}
   $$
   Here, $\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{OCOCH}_3$ is phenyl acetate.

3. **Product Formation**: The product formed, phenyl acetate, is an ester. This is consistent with the reaction between an alcohol (or its salt) and an acyl chloride, which typically yields an ester.

### Explanation for Why Other Options are Incorrect

1. **Option 1: Methyl Benzoate**
   - Methyl benzoate is an ester formed from methanol and benzoic acid or its derivatives. The reaction between sodium phenate and acetyl chloride does not involve methanol or benzoic acid, so methyl benzoate cannot be formed.

2. **Option 2: Acetyl Phenol**
   - Acetyl phenol would imply the direct acetylation of the phenolic hydroxyl group, leading to an acetophenone derivative. However, the reaction with acetyl chloride and sodium phenate leads to ester formation, not ketone formation.

3. **Option 4: Chlorobenzene**
   - Chlorobenzene is formed by the chlorination of benzene, not through the reaction of sodium phenate with acetyl chloride. There is no mechanism in this reaction that would lead to the formation of chlorobenzene.

In conclusion, the reaction between sodium phenate and acetyl chloride specifically leads to the formation of phenyl acetate, making Option 3 the correct answer.