1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Chemistry
  4. An unknown alcohol is treated with the Lucas reagent to determine whether the alcohol is primary, secondary or tertiary. Which alcohol reacts fastest and by what mechanism :

Question Error Report

Thank you for reporting, we will resolve it shortly

Back to Question

Q. An unknown alcohol is treated with the " Lucas reagent " to determine whether the alcohol is primary, secondary or tertiary. Which alcohol reacts fastest and by what mechanism :

NTA AbhyasNTA Abhyas 2020Alcohols Phenols and Ethers

Solution:

3° alcohol reacts fastest giving white turbidity immediately on adding lucas reagent.

Reaction takes place through carbocation formation involving SN1 mechanism,Rate of reaction in this reaction is directly proportional to the stability of the carbocation formed.

3° R-OH(tertiary alcohol) forms 3° carbocation and therefore,the reaction is fastest.

Solution