Question
Download Solution PDFOrder of reactivity of alcohols towards sodium metal is:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Option 1 : Primary > secondary > tertiary
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UP TGT Arts Full Test 1
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Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFConcept:
The acidity of alcohols:
- Just as metals react with acids to liberate hydrogen, alcohols react with metals to liberate hydrogen acting as an acid.
- The conjugate base alkoxide ion formed after alcohol releases a proton is R -O -.
- The stability of the conjugate base depends on the +I of the alkyl group R attached because it is not resonance stabilized here.
- The strength of negative charge increases as we move on from primary to secondary to tertiary alcohols because of the number of alkyl groups increases.
- The increase in negative charge over the oxygen atom destabilizes the conjugate base.
- Thus, the acidity of alcohols follows the order Primary> Secondary > Tertiary.
Explanation:
- In the reaction of alcohols with sodium metal, bond cleavage of the O - H bond takes place.
- The ease of breakage of the O-H bond in alcohols is an indication of the acidity of alcohols.
We know that the ease of this bond breakage follows the order primary > secondary > tertiary.
So, the ease of reactivity of sodium follow the order
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