2-Phenylphenol shows up as a solid, usually white to off-white, that can take on forms like flakes or crystalline powder. This organic compound goes by the molecular formula C12H10O and its structure features a phenyl group directly bonded to another phenolic ring. It measures about 170.21 g/mol in molecular weight. Since it doesn’t carry water in its solid form, its density clocks in around 1.19 g/cm³. When you look at it up close, it has a waxy, almost pearly texture, which explains why some call it "pearls" in trade. 2-Phenylphenol stays stable at room temperature, and does not evaporate quickly, which tells you it doesn’t lose strength easily during transport or storage.
Standing out for its high melting point near 57–60 °C, it keeps shape in normal ambient conditions. Toss it into hot water or organic solvents, and it breaks down fast—soluble in alcohol, ether, and hot alkaline solutions. Its pH leans toward the weakly basic spectrum, not acidic despite being a phenol. The material will not dissolve in cold water, so you’ll notice it floating or collecting at the top if you try to make a cold solution. In the lab or industrial scale, its solid state makes raw handling easy, and you can grind the flakes down to powder for better mixing in product batches.
You'll find this material packed as solid flakes, free-flowing powders, or even as pressed pellets. Commercial shipments often arrive in drums, bags, or lined cartons keeping moisture and light out since long sunlight exposure can brown the compound. Some applications need it as dissolved concentrate, so technical grade solutions in measured liters help process plants. Besides that, the chemical can be loaded in high purity form tailored for specialty work, or blended with a small portion of stabilizers, to meet factory safety codes. For customs purposes, the HS Code 2907.19.00 matches this compound in most global trade systems. Its role as a raw material stretches across disinfectants, preservatives, dyes, and some polymer processes.
Zooming into its structure, both phenyl rings in 2-Phenylphenol take a non-planar orientation. Laboratory chemists value this because it limits close molecular packing, which helps certain reactions stay selective. In the real world, that means this compound won’t form large, stubborn crystals, and blends into solid mixes well. Analytical charts like NMR or mass spectra show a set of aromatic proton peaks that let analysts check for purity in every batch. The single oxygen atom as the phenolic hydroxyl group gives the compound mild acidity, helping it react in halogenation and nitration steps when making advanced resins or agricultural chemicals.
Most workers who deal with 2-Phenylphenol keep it in tightly sealed containers, since dust can get irritating if inhaled or left on skin. If you ask plant technicians, they’ll tell you the powder may cause redness or an itchy spot—nothing like a strong acid burn, but worth proper gloves and goggles. Prolonged exposure or careless use in poorly vented spaces brings in respiratory risks, so fume hoods or extraction fans reduce those risks right away. Information from chemical safety databases rates 2-Phenylphenol as harmful if swallowed and hazardous to aquatic systems. Disposal routines channel waste to licensed handlers, which avoids seeping into waterways. Fire isn’t a major worry, since it doesn’t burst into flame below 500 °C, but burning the powder can release smoke with phenol vapors, so emergency teams stay trained for those rare cases.
Agriculture and food storage have relied on this chemical since the 1920s to keep produce from spoiling. Fungicidal sprays and coatings lean on it because mold hardly grows in its presence. Most citrus fruits that make it to supermarkets owe their shelf life to a thin layer of this compound, which is generally recognized as safe at strict levels. Some folks react harshly to preservatives, so food laws now cap how much oranges or apples can bring to market. In factories, the same antifungal power gets channeled into wood preservation, assuring doors or furniture don’t rot in damp storage. Another set of uses appears in cleaning fluids, where 2-Phenylphenol joins with surfactants to wipe mold spores and bacteria off restaurant or hospital surfaces.
Governments track this compound tightly due to aquatic toxicity and its slow breakdown in soil and water. The EPA and the European Chemicals Agency have both published risk assessments for large-scale discharges. That oversight keeps companies and supply chains in line, forcing regular lab checks to verify residue and emissions levels. Wastewater containing this chemical must pass through treatment plants that catch or neutralize organics before release. Many manufacturers invest in closed systems, which recovering scrap dust or off-cuts from manufacturing lines so they don’t drift into the open air. In consumer safety, the EU has a max allowable level in food contact materials, and US guidelines call for clear labeling in cleaning formulations.
Tons of attention goes into substitution research. Scientists at chemical plants experiment with less persistent antimicrobials that break down before reaching lakes and rivers. They explore greener synthesis methods, capturing side-products and routing process vapor back to the first steps, while newer filter and adsorption setups catch spilled powder and keep indoor air cleaner for workers on the ground. On the regulatory front, tighter digital audits trace 2-Phenylphenol from purchase to disposal, closing gaps in the oversight loop, striving for fewer unauthorized leaks. Communicating safe handling habits through hands-on training brings down accident rates on factory lines, while investment in waste recovery nudges the industry toward circular material use, where leftover solids replenish stock rather than flow out as pollution.
