When sodium carbonate solution was added to 2,4,6 – trinitrophenol solution effervescence of a colorless gas occurs whereas when sodium carbonate solution was added to phenol, there is no observable change.  Explain.

2,4,6 – trinitrophenol iberated carbon dioxide from sodium carbonate while phenol does not because  2,4,6 – trinitrophenol contains electron withdrawing groups (nitro groups); these withdraw electrons from the benzene ring and consequently from OH group leading to loss of hydrogen ions