Moderate

When CO2 is made to react with ethyl magnesium iodide followed by acid hydrolysis the product formed is _________________?

Correct answer: B. propanoic acid

  • A. propane
  • B. propanoic acid
  • C. propanal
  • D. propanol

Explanation

Ethyl magnesium iodide adds to CO2 to form a magnesium carboxylate, and acid hydrolysis converts this intermediate into CH3CH2COOH, propanoic acid. The CO2 carbon becomes the additional carbon in the acid group. Students may choose propanal or propanol by treating the reaction like ordinary carbonyl addition rather than the special carboxylation of a Grignard reagent.

Last updated

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.

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