The major product obtained on interaction of phenol with sodium hydroxide and carbon dioxide is

Explanation:

When phenol reacts with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), a Kolbe-Schmitt reaction takes place. In this reaction, phenol undergoes carboxylation to form salicylic acid, which is a hydroxybenzoic acid with a -OH group attached to the benzene ring.

The reaction mechanism is as follows:

Chemical Reaction:

C₆H₅OH → NaOH, CO₂ → C₆H₄(OH)(COOH)

Detailed Steps:

1. Phenol reacts with sodium hydroxide to form phenoxide ion:

   C₆H₅OH + NaOH → C₆H₅O⁻ Na⁺ + H₂O

2. Phenoxide ion reacts with carbon dioxide under high pressure, leading to the formation of the sodium salt of salicylic acid:

   C₆H₅O⁻ + CO₂ → C₆H₄(OH)(COONa)

3. The sodium salt undergoes hydrolysis (reaction with water) to form salicylic acid:

   C₆H₄(OH)(COONa) + H₂O → C₆H₄(OH)(COOH) + NaOH

Thus, the major product obtained is salicylic acid (C₆H₄(OH)(COOH)).