1.

Give a plausible explanation for each one of the following: (a) Although phenoxide ion has more number of resonating structures than carboxylate ion, carborylic acid is a stronger acid than phenol. (b) There are two -NH2 groups in semicarbazide. However, only one is involved in the formation of semicarbazones.

Answer»

(a) The delocalisation of benzene electrons contributes little towards the stability of phenoxide ion. The carboxylate ion is much more resonance stabilized than phenoxide ion. So, it is easier to lose a proton than phenol. Hence, carboxylic acid is a stronger acid than phenol. 

(b) Semicarbazide has two -NHgroups. One of them, which is directly attached to C=O is involved in resonance. Thus electron density on this group decreases and it does not act as a nucleophile. In contrast, the lone pair of electrons on the other-NH2 group is available for uncleophilic attack.



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