Benzene is treated with oleum to produce compound (X) which when further heated with molten sodium hydroxide followed by acidification produces compound (Y). The compound Y is treated with zinc metal to produce compound (Z). Identify the structure of compound (Z) from the following option.

Step 1: Formation of Compound (X) When Benzene is treated with oleum (fuming sulfuric acid, H2SO4 + SO3), it undergoes an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction called sulfonation.

• Compound (X) is Benzenesulfonic acid.

Step 2: Formation of Compound (Y) When Benzenesulfonic acid (X) is heated with molten sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at high temperatures, the sulfonic acid group is substituted by a hydroxyl group. Acidification with a dilute acid completes the transformation. This is a classic industrial method for preparing phenol.

• Compound (Y) is Phenol (C6H5OH).

Step 3: Formation of Compound (Z) When Phenol (Y) is heated and distilled with zinc dust (Zn metal), it undergoes a reduction reaction. The zinc metal removes the oxygen atom from the phenol to form zinc oxide (ZnO), converting the phenol back into a simple hydrocarbon ring.

• Compound (Z) is Benzene (C6H6).