C6H6O

C6H6O is the empirical formula for several different chemical compounds, meaning they all have the same ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. The most common and well-known compound with this formula is phenol. Phenol is an aromatic organic compound with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a benzene ring. It is a white crystalline solid with a distinct sweet, tar-like odor. Phenol is weakly acidic and can react with bases to form phenoxide salts. It is soluble in water and many organic solvents. Phenol is a significant industrial chemical, used in the production of plastics, resins, explosives, and pharmaceuticals, including aspirin. It is also a disinfectant.

Other isomers of C6H6O exist, meaning they have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements of atoms. For example, cyclohexadienone is another compound with the formula C6H6O. It exists in different isomeric forms, such as 1,3-cyclohexadienone and 2,5-cyclohexadienone. These compounds are less common than phenol and have different chemical properties and applications. While phenol is a widely recognized and industrially important molecule, the formula C6H6O encompasses a small family of related organic compounds.