A compound is oxidized to X, by further oxidation of X if resulting compound is butyric acid, starting compound can be:
Correct answer: A. Butanol
- A. Butanol
- B. Butanoic acid
- C. Butanone
- D. All of these
Explanation
Butanol is the correct starting compound because it is a primary alcohol. Primary alcohols can be oxidized first to aldehydes and then to carboxylic acids. In this case, butanol is oxidized to butanal and then further oxidized to butanoic acid (butyric acid). Butanoic acid is already the final product, so it cannot be the starting compound. Butanone is a ketone and cannot undergo oxidation to a carboxylic acid under typical conditions because ketones do not have the necessary hydrogen atom for such a transformation. The option All of these is incorrect because only butanol can follow the oxidation pathway needed to produce butanoic acid from a different starting compound.
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About Nomenclature, Structure and Preparation
Carboxylic acids are prepared by oxidising primary alcohols or aldehydes, hydrolysing nitriles, esters and amides, and carbonating suitable organometallic compounds. Their structures, IUPAC naming, resonance stabilisation and acidic character explain why carboxylic acids differ from alcohols and phenols, despite all containing oxygen and hydrogen.
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