Phenolyikhompawundi equlethe iringi yebenzene kunye neqela le-hydroxyl. Kwimichiza, i-alcohols ichazwa njengeekhompawundi eziqulethe iqela le-hydroxyl kunye nekhonkco le-hydrocarbon. Ngoko ke, ngokusekelwe kule nkcazo, i-phenol ayilona utywala.

Nangona kunjalo, ukuba sijonga isakhiwo se-phenol, sinokubona ukuba iqulethe iqela le-hydroxyl. Oku kuthetha ukuba i-phenol ineempawu ezithile zotywala. Nangona kunjalo, ukwakheka kwephenol kwahlukile kwisakhiwo sezinye utywala kuba sineringi yebenzene. Le ring ye-benzene inika i-phenol iimpawu zayo ezizodwa kunye neempawu ezahlukileyo kwezo zotywala.

Ngoko, ngokusekelwe kwiimpawu zesakhiwo se-phenol kunye ne-alcohol, sinokuthi i-phenol ayilona utywala. Nangona kunjalo, ukuba sijonga kuphela into yokuba i-phenol iqulethe iqela le-hydroxyl, ngoko ke ineempawu ezithile zotywala. Ngoko ke, impendulo yombuzo othi "Ngaba phenol utywala?" ayinakuba nguewe nje okanye hayi. Kuxhomekeke kumxholo kunye nengcaciso yotywala esibusebenzisayo.