Role of ZnCI2 in the reaction is to:
Correct answer: D. Make - OH a better leaving group
- A. increase acidic character of C2H5OH
- B. increase basic character of C2H5OH
- C. Make Cl a good nucleophile
- D. Make - OH a better leaving group
Explanation
The role of ZnCl2 in the reaction is to make the -OH group a better leaving group.Zinc chloride is a Lewis acid, which means that it can donate a pair of electrons to another molecule.The -OH group is a poor leaving group because it is not very stable. It has a strong negative charge, which makes it susceptible to attack by nucleophiles.When ZnCl2 is added to the reaction, it donates a pair of electrons to the -OH group. This makes the -OH group more stable and less susceptible to attack by nucleophiles.As a result, the -OH group is more likely to leave the molecule, which allows the reaction to proceed.
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About Alcohols and Phenols
Alcohols are classified as primary, secondary or tertiary and studied through their hydrogen bonding, acidity, oxidation and reactions with active metals, acids and halogenating agents. Phenols require separate treatment because the hydroxyl group is attached to an aromatic ring, making their acidity and electrophilic substitution different from ordinary alcohols.
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