Phenoxide ion, ArO−

Definition

A phenoxide ion is a negative ion formed when the hydrogen atom in a phenol molecule is replaced by a metal, resulting in an oxygen atom bonded to an aromatic ring with a negative charge. It is highly reactive and is involved in various organic reactions, particularly in nucleophilic substitutions.

Related terms

Phenol: A type of aromatic alcohol with a hydroxyl group (-OH) directly bonded to an aromatic hydrocarbon ring.

Nucleophilic substitution: A chemical reaction in which an electron-rich nucleophile selectively bonds with or attacks the positive or partially positive charge of an atom or a group of atoms to replace a leaving group; common in organic chemistry.

Aromaticity: The chemical property of conjugated ring molecules with alternating single and double bonds, exhibiting exceptional stability due to delocalized electrons across the ring structure