- Which one of the following compounds can be made from ethanol using only a substitution
reaction?
(A) Ethanal
B1 Bromoethane
C) Ethanoic acid
D) Ethoxyethane
E) Ethene
(A) Ethanal
B1 Bromoethane
C) Ethanoic acid
D) Ethoxyethane
E) Ethene
Substitution rection of alcohol means to replace the hydroxyl (-OH) group with some other group.
A) Oxidation of primary alcohol gives aldehydes (ethanal)
B) Substitution of alcohol (-OH group being replaced by -X)
C) Oxidation of aldehyde/ketone gives carboxylic acids (ethanoic acid)
D) Dehydration of alcohol with H2SO4 at 140 °C gives ether (ethoxyethane)
E) Dehydration of alcohol H2SO4 at 170 °C gives alkenes (ethene)
The answer key says A. I do not understand why
ethanol to ethanal is a DIRECT nucleophilic substitution through esterification when reacting with a carboxylic acid.The key word in the question is ONLY substitution.
You may think B is correct however there are two steps, first the protonation of the alcohol and then only bromine can be added.
Bromoethane to ethanol however (the reverse reaction) is a substitution
Does this help?
I get it now. Thank you