Phenols

n. (Chemistry) poisonous acidic compound obtained from coal tar or benzene and used mainly as a disinfectant or antiseptic, carbolic acid; any hydroxyl derivative of benzene

In organic chemistry, phenols, sometimes called phenolics, are a class of chemical compounds consisting of a hydroxyl group (-O H) attached to an aromatic hydrocarbon group. The simplest of the class is phenol (C6H5OH). Although similar to alcohols, phenols have unique properties and are not classified as alcohols (since the hydroxyl group is not bonded to a saturated carbon atom). They have relatively higher acidities due to the aromatic ring tightly coupling with the oxygen and a relatively loose bond between the oxygen and hydrogen. The acidity of the hydroxyl group in phenols is commonly intermediate between that of aliphatic alcohols and carboxylic acids (their pKa is usually comprised between 10 and 12). Loss of a positive hydrogen ion (H+) from the hydroxyl group of a phenol forms a negative phenolate ion.
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Phenols, n.pl aromatic compounds found in some essential oils; possess strong antiseptic and antibacterial properties and also act as nerve [more]Phenols - Community and Resources

Noun
1. any of a class of weakly acidic organic compounds; molecule contains one or more hydroxyl groups
(hypernym) organic compound
(hyponym) pyrogallol, pyrogallic acid
2. a toxic white soluble crystalline acidic derivative of benzene; used in manufacturing and as a disinfectant and antiseptic; poisonous if taken internally
(synonym) carbolic acid, hydroxybenzene, oxybenzene, phenylic acid
(hypernym) acid

n. phenol, carbolic acid, crystalline compound derived from resins or benzene (Chemistry)