text: Arylsulfonic acids are susceptible to hydrolysis, the reverse of the sulfonation reaction. Whereas benzenesulfonic acid hydrolyzes above 200 °C, most related derivatives are easier to hydrolyze.  Thus, heating aryl sulfonic acids in aqueous acid produces the parent arene.  This reaction is employed in several scenarios.  In some cases the sulfonic acid serves as a water-solubilizing protecting group, as illustrated by the purification of para-xylene via its sulfonic acid derivative.  In the synthesis of 2,6-dichlorophenol, phenol is converted to its 4-sulfonic acid derivative, which then selectively chlorinates at the positions flanking the phenol.  Hydrolysis releases the sulfonic acid group.