Question

An organic compound [A] C₂H₆O, on heating with conc. H₂SO₄ at 413 K gives a neutral compound [B] C₄H₁₀O. Compound [B] on treatment with PCl₅ gives a product, which on subsequent treatment with KCN yields compound [C] C₃H₅N. Compound [C] on hydrolysis gives an acid [D] C₃H₆O₂. Identify the compounds [A], [B], [C] and [D].

Answer 1

[A] : Ethanol, [B] : Ethoxyethane, [C] : Ethyl cyanide, [D] : Propionic acid

Reactions:

\[\ce{CH3\underset{[A]}{CH2}OH ->[H2SO4][413 K] C2H5 -\underset{[B]}{O} - C2H5 ->[PCl5] 2C2H5Cl + POCl3}\]

\[\ce{2C2H5Cl + KCN -> C2\underset{[C]}{H5}CN + KCl}\]

\[\ce{C2\underset{[C]}{H5}CN ->[H2O] C2\underset{[D]}{H5}COOH}\]