COMEDK20269 May 2026Evening ShiftChemistryAlcohols Phenols and EthersActual
Two statements [A] and [B] are given below. Choose the correct option. A) Protonated R - CH₂- OH can serve as Electrophiles while neutral R - OH acts as a Nucleophile. B) The bond between O - H cleaves when R - CH₂- OH acts as Electrophiles and the bond between C - O cleaves when they act as Nucleophiles.
Options
- ABoth the statements [A] and [B] are wrong
- BStatement [A] is correct but [B] is wrong
- CBoth the statements [A] and [B] are correct
- DStatement [B] is correct but [A] is wrong
Correct answer
B. Statement [A] is correct but [B] is wrong
Step-by-step solution
Alcohols can act as both nucleophiles and electrophiles. Neutral alcohols act as nucleophiles due to the presence of lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom. In these reactions, the O - H bond is cleaved. Protonated alcohols act as electrophiles because protonation makes the hydroxyl group a good leaving group (H₂ O). In these reactions, a nucleophile attacks the carbon atom, and the C - O bond is cleaved. Statement [A] is correct as protonated R - CH₂- OH acts as an electrophile and neutral R - OH acts as a nuc