Biological process

carbolic acid metabolic process, carbolic acid metabolism, hydroxybenzene metabolic process, hydroxybenzene metabolism, phenol-containing compound metabolism

The chemical reactions and pathways involving a phenol, any compound containing one or more hydroxyl groups directly attached to an aromatic carbon ring.

Note that phenol metabolism is not included as a child of 'xenobiotic metabolism' because although it is synthesized industrially, phenol is also found naturally in animal wastes and other organic materials. It is often formed by the activity of microorganisms, which can chemically modify a variety of xenobiotic and naturally occurring phenolic compounds.