Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): The reaction of propanone with dilute Ba(OH) ₂ at room temperature yields a ketol, whereas heating the reaction mixture yields an , -unsaturated ketone. Reason (R): -hydroxy ketones readily undergo dehydration on heating because the resulting carbon-carbon double bond is isolated from the carbonyl

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Assertion (A) is correct: Propanone reacts with dilute Ba(OH) ₂ at room temperature to form a -hydroxy ketone (ketol), specifically 4-hydroxy-4-methylpentan-2-one. Upon heating, this ketol readily undergoes dehydration to form an , -unsaturated ketone (4-methylpent-3-en-2-one, also known as mesityl oxide). Reason (R) is incorrect: The dehydration of -hydroxy ketones is highly favorable upon heating because the resulting carbon-carbon double bond is conjugated with the carbonyl group, not isolated. This extended con