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NEET CHEMISTRYAlcohols, Phenols and EthersHard

Question

When glycerol is treated with an excess of HI, it produces:

A

Allyl iodide

B

Propene

C

Glycerol triiodide

D

2-Iodopropane

Step-by-Step Solution

The reaction of glycerol (propane-1,2,3-triol) with excess hydrogen iodide (HI) proceeds in several steps:

  1. Substitution: Initially, the three hydroxyl groups are replaced by iodine to form 1,2,3-triiodopropane.
  2. Elimination of Iodine: Vicinal diiodides are unstable due to the large size of iodine atoms. 1,2,3-triiodopropane loses a molecule of iodine (I2I_2) to form allyl iodide (CH2=CHCH2ICH_2=CH-CH_2I).
  3. Addition of HI: Allyl iodide reacts with another molecule of HI. The addition follows Markovnikov's rule, but the resulting product is 1,2-diiodopropane (CH3CHICH2ICH_3-CHI-CH_2I).
  4. Elimination of Iodine: 1,2-diiodopropane is also a vicinal diiodide and unstable; it loses I2I_2 to form propene (CH3CH=CH2CH_3-CH=CH_2).
  5. Final Addition: Propene reacts with the excess HI. According to Markovnikov's rule, the negative part (II^-) attaches to the carbon with fewer hydrogen atoms (the secondary carbon), yielding the stable final product 2-iodopropane (CH3CHICH3CH_3-CHI-CH_3).

(See NCERT Class 12, Unit 10 for alkyl halide preparation and Class 11, Unit 13 for alkene addition reactions ).

Exam Context & Concepts Covered

This question aligns with the NEET CHEMISTRY syllabus, specifically targeting concepts from Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers. Mastering this topic is crucial for scoring well in the upcoming medical entrance examinations. Solving conceptually related problems will help you understand the nuances of these concepts and improve your problem-solving speed.

CHEMISTRYAlcohols, Phenols and Ethersglyceroltreatedexcessproduces

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