How does the reaction of phenol with zinc dust result in the conversion of phenol to benzene, and what is the role of zinc in this process?

The reaction of phenol with zinc dust results in the conversion of phenol to benzene through a process known as dehydroxylation. In this reaction, zinc acts as a reducing agent. Zinc dust reduces the hydroxyl group (-OH) in phenol to hydrogen gas (H₂) and removes the oxygen atom. The reduction of phenol to benzene involves the elimination of water (H₂O) from the hydroxyl group. This process leads to the removal of the oxygen and hydrogen from the phenolic ring, regenerating the aromaticity of benzene. The reaction with zinc dust thus facilitates the dehydroxylation and conversion of phenol to benzene.