Phenol in water is widely used as a disinfectant and antiseptic due to its ability to denature proteins and disrupt microbial cell membranes. It is commonly found in low concentrations in household cleaning products, throat lozenges, and oral antiseptics. In industrial settings, it serves as a preservative in paints, adhesives, and hydraulic fluids to prevent microbial growth. It is also used in laboratories as a reagent for protein and nucleic acid extraction, and in the preparation of other phenolic compounds such as resins and plastics for applications in furniture, electrical insulation, and automotive parts. Due to its corrosive nature and toxicity at higher concentrations, careful handling and dilution are required in all applications.