Moderate

Reagent used to reduce a carboxylic acid to an alkane is:

Correct answer: C. P / HI

  • A. Ni / H2
  • B. NaBH4
  • C. P / HI
  • D. LiAlH4

Explanation

The reduction of a carboxylic acid to an alkane typically requires a strong reducing agent. One commonly used reagent for this purpose is lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH₄). LiAlH₄ is a powerful reducing agent that can selectively reduce the carbonyl group of a carboxylic acid to a primary alcohol, and further reduction with additional equivalents of LiAlH₄ can convert the alcohol to an alkane. Other reducing agents, such as sodium borohydride (NaBH₄), are generally not strong enough to directly reduce a carboxylic acid to an alkane.Hot red Phosphorus and Hydrogen Iodide at 200℃ is used to reduce carboxylic acids to alkanes according to the equation below, using propionic acid as an example:C2H5COOH + 6HI ----------------------> C3H8 + 2H2O + 3I2Therefore option C is correct.

Last updated

About Carboxylic Acids

Carboxylic acids are named and studied through the combined effects of the carbonyl and hydroxyl groups, their preparation, acidity and hydrogen bonding. Reactions include neutralisation, esterification, reduction and conversion into acid chlorides, anhydrides, esters and amides, with emphasis on how these derivatives interconvert.

Practise Carboxylic Acids

550 free Carboxylic Acids MCQs from Chemistry, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Exams that ask Chemistry questions like this

Chemistry is on 12 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

Related questions