Carboxylic acid on reduction with HI / phosphorous yields_________________?
Correct answer: A. alkane
- A. alkane
- B. alcohols
- C. aldehydes
- D. ketones
Explanation
HI with phosphorus is a strong reducing system that removes the carboxyl group of a carboxylic acid and converts the remaining carbon chain into an alkane. For example, RCOOH is ultimately reduced to RH, with the carbonyl carbon removed as carbon dioxide or related reduced products. Students may choose alcohol because many ordinary reductions of carbonyl compounds give alcohols, but HI/phosphorus carries the reduction much further.
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About Reactivity of Carboxylic Acids
Carboxylic acids show acidic behaviour because their carboxylate ions are resonance-stabilised, and electron-withdrawing groups can change their strength. Reactions include neutralisation, esterification, formation of acid chlorides and amides, reduction, decarboxylation and substitution at the acyl carbon, which differs from the reactions of phenols.
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