Which of the following alcohols would react the fastest with H,SO4? A A В C C D D OH HO HO NO2 OH A B C

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**Question:**

Which of the following alcohols would react the fastest with H₂SO₄?

**Options:**
- **A**: A
- **B**: B
- **C**: C
- **D**: D

**Images of Chemical Structures:**

Below the options, there are four chemical structures labeled A, B, C, and D:

- **Structure A**: A tertiary alcohol represented as a carbon atom connected to three other carbon atoms and an -OH group.
- **Structure B**: A secondary alcohol represented as a carbon atom connected to two other carbon atoms, a hydrogen atom, and an -OH group.
- **Structure C**: A tertiary alcohol with a nitro group (NO₂) on the adjacent carbon. The structure consists of a carbon atom connected to three other carbon atoms, an -OH group, and one of these carbon atoms is further bonded to a NO₂ group.
- **Structure D**: A primary alcohol represented as a carbon atom connected to two hydrogen atoms, a carbon atom, and an -OH group.

**Analysis:**

In the presence of H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid), the alcohol that reacts the fastest is typically the one that can form the most stable carbocation intermediate. The stability of the carbocation intermediates generally follows the order: tertiary > secondary > primary. Therefore, tertiary alcohols are likely to react the fastest. 

Given this information, examine the chemical structures and identify the tertiary alcohol(s): A and C. 

Consider additional effects such as electron-withdrawing groups, which can affect the reactivity. For example, in structure C, the presence of a nitro group (an electron-withdrawing group) can destabilize the carbocation, making it less reactive compared to the standard tertiary alcohol in structure A.

Thus, the answer would be:

**Answer:** **A**

This educational content helps understand the factors affecting the reactivity of alcohols with sulfuric acid.
Transcribed Image Text:**Question:** Which of the following alcohols would react the fastest with H₂SO₄? **Options:** - **A**: A - **B**: B - **C**: C - **D**: D **Images of Chemical Structures:** Below the options, there are four chemical structures labeled A, B, C, and D: - **Structure A**: A tertiary alcohol represented as a carbon atom connected to three other carbon atoms and an -OH group. - **Structure B**: A secondary alcohol represented as a carbon atom connected to two other carbon atoms, a hydrogen atom, and an -OH group. - **Structure C**: A tertiary alcohol with a nitro group (NO₂) on the adjacent carbon. The structure consists of a carbon atom connected to three other carbon atoms, an -OH group, and one of these carbon atoms is further bonded to a NO₂ group. - **Structure D**: A primary alcohol represented as a carbon atom connected to two hydrogen atoms, a carbon atom, and an -OH group. **Analysis:** In the presence of H₂SO₄ (sulfuric acid), the alcohol that reacts the fastest is typically the one that can form the most stable carbocation intermediate. The stability of the carbocation intermediates generally follows the order: tertiary > secondary > primary. Therefore, tertiary alcohols are likely to react the fastest. Given this information, examine the chemical structures and identify the tertiary alcohol(s): A and C. Consider additional effects such as electron-withdrawing groups, which can affect the reactivity. For example, in structure C, the presence of a nitro group (an electron-withdrawing group) can destabilize the carbocation, making it less reactive compared to the standard tertiary alcohol in structure A. Thus, the answer would be: **Answer:** **A** This educational content helps understand the factors affecting the reactivity of alcohols with sulfuric acid.
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