Acetone reacts with HCN to form a cyanohydrin. It is an example of________________?
Correct answer: C. nucleophilic addition
- A. electronphilic addition
- B. electrophilic substitution
- C. nucleophilic addition
- D. nucleophilic substitution
Explanation
In acetone, the carbonyl carbon is electron-deficient, while cyanide ion from HCN acts as the nucleophile and attacks it, followed by protonation to form a cyanohydrin. The likely wrong choice is electrophilic addition, which would require an electrophile attacking an electron-rich multiple bond rather than CN- attacking the carbonyl carbon.
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About Nucleophilic Addition Reactions
Nucleophilic addition occurs at the polar carbonyl group of aldehydes and ketones, where a nucleophile attacks the electron-deficient carbon atom. Reactions with hydrogen cyanide, sodium bisulfite, alcohols and Grignard reagents are explained through tetrahedral intermediates, acid or base catalysis, and the different reactivity of aldehydes and ketones.
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