What product is obtained when chlorobenzene is fused with NaOH?

When chlorobenzene is fused with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), the primary reaction that occurs is the nucleophilic substitution of the chlorine atom with a hydroxyl group. This process typically involves heating the chlorobenzene with NaOH at high temperatures, where the sodium hydroxide acts as a strong base.

As a result of this reaction, the chlorine atom in chlorobenzene is replaced by a hydroxyl (-OH) group, leading to the formation of phenol. Phenol is a significant chemical compound that has various applications in the chemical industry, including its use in the production of plastics, resins, and other important chemicals.

The other choices do not result from this reaction. Benzene would not be formed, as the reaction is a substitution rather than a dehydrohalogenation process. Benzoic acid is a different compound that results from the oxidation of aromatic compounds or the carboxylation of benzene derivatives, and is not produced through the direct fusion of chlorobenzene with NaOH. Chlorobenzene itself remains unchanged in this specific reaction context, making the formation of phenol the correct and relevant outcome when fusing chlorobenzene with sodium hydroxide.