Which is most reactive among the following(a) HCHO (b) CH3CHO (C) CH3COCH3 (D) All are equal
I have no idea. Reactive with what? No One cn answer this question.
To determine which among HCHO, CH3CHO, and CH3COCH3 is the most reactive, we need to consider the factors that contribute to reactivity. These factors include the presence of functional groups, electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups, and steric hindrance.
HCHO is formaldehyde, CH3CHO is acetaldehyde, and CH3COCH3 is acetone.
Among these compounds, the most reactive one is HCHO or formaldehyde. This is because HCHO has an aldehyde functional group, which is highly reactive due to the presence of a highly polarized carbonyl group. The electronegative oxygen atom in the carbonyl group attracts electrons, making the carbon atom partially positively charged. This makes the carbon atom in HCHO susceptible to nucleophilic attacks, thus showing high reactivity.
CH3CHO or acetaldehyde also has an aldehyde functional group. However, the presence of the methyl (CH3) group in this compound slightly reduces the reactivity compared to HCHO due to the electron-donating nature of the methyl group. Electron-donating groups tend to stabilize the positive charge on the carbon atom, reducing its reactivity.
CH3COCH3 or acetone, on the other hand, does not have an aldehyde group but instead has a ketone functional group. Ketones are generally less reactive than aldehydes due to the presence of two alkyl groups surrounding the carbonyl group, which causes steric hindrance. Steric hindrance restricts the approach of nucleophiles to the carbon atom, reducing the reactivity.
Therefore, in terms of reactivity, the order is: HCHO > CH3CHO > CH3COCH3.
So, the correct answer is (a) HCHO, which is the most reactive among the given compounds.