The Bakelite is made from phenol and formaldehyde. The initial reaction between the two compounds is an example of:

A. Aromatic electrophilic substitution

Explanation:
The reaction between phenol and formaldehyde to form Bakelite is an example of aromatic electrophilic substitution. Let's break down the reaction and understand why this answer is correct.

1. Phenol and Formaldehyde:
- Phenol: Phenol is an aromatic compound that consists of a benzene ring with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to it. It is an electron-rich compound due to the presence of the benzene ring, which contains pi electrons.
- Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is a small organic compound with the formula CH2O. It is an electron-deficient compound because it contains a carbon atom with a partial positive charge.

2. Reaction Mechanism:
The reaction between phenol and formaldehyde involves the formation of a crosslinked polymer known as Bakelite. The reaction proceeds through several steps:

- Step 1: Formation of the electrophile
- In the presence of an acid catalyst, formaldehyde undergoes a condensation reaction to form a reactive electrophile called a methylene bridge (CH2)⁺.
- The acid catalyst protonates the oxygen atom in formaldehyde, making it more electrophilic.

- Step 2: Attack of the nucleophilic phenol
- The electron-rich benzene ring of phenol acts as a nucleophile and attacks the electrophilic methylene bridge.
- The attack results in the displacement of a proton from phenol and the formation of a new carbon-carbon bond.

- Step 3: Formation of the polymer
- The reaction between phenol and formaldehyde is repeated multiple times, leading to the formation of a three-dimensional network polymer called Bakelite.
- The crosslinking of the polymer occurs through the methylene bridges formed by the reaction between the phenol and formaldehyde.

3. Aromatic Electrophilic Substitution:
The reaction between phenol and formaldehyde is an example of aromatic electrophilic substitution because:
- The benzene ring of phenol acts as a nucleophile and attacks the electrophilic methylene bridge.
- The attack leads to the substitution of a hydrogen atom on the benzene ring with the methylene bridge, resulting in the formation of a new carbon-carbon bond.

Conclusion:
In summary, the initial reaction between phenol and formaldehyde to form Bakelite is an example of aromatic electrophilic substitution. The benzene ring of phenol acts as a nucleophile and attacks the electrophilic methylene bridge, resulting in the formation of a new carbon-carbon bond and the subsequent polymerization to form Bakelite.