Q. Assertion: trans-butene on reaction with bromine forms racemic mixture.
Reason: trans-compound in trans addition forms two types of stereoisomers.

 1764  203 AIIMSAIIMS 2007Hydrocarbons Report Error

Solution:

With trans-but-2-ene, the product of addition is optically inactive due to the formation of symmetric meso compounds.

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In general, for symmetrical alkenes and symmetrical reagents, the addition takes place as :

cis-alkene + syn-addition meso

trans-alkene + syn-addition racemic

cis-alkene + anti-addition racemic

trans-alkene + anti-addition meso