Help with Alkane Reactions

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Organic Chemistry › Help with Alkane Reactions

Questions 1 - 3
1

If an alkane is reacted with excess in a high temperature environment, what are the products formed?

and

and

and

and

Explanation

Whenever an alkane is reacted with excess oxygen in a high temperature reaction, the reaction is known as combustion. Combustion of an alkane always produces carbon dioxide gas and water vapor.

Therefore the correct answer is: and .

2

Which of the following can reduce an alkene to an alkane?

H2/Pd and H2/Raney nickel

Lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4) and H2/Pd

H2/Raney nickel

H2/Pd

Lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4)

Explanation

Neither lithium aluminum hydride, nor sodium borohydride will reduce C–C double bonds.

H2/Raney nickel and H2/Pd can each (individually) reduce an alkene to an alkane. Since both H2/Raney nickel and H2/Pd can reduce the alkene, the answer is both of those reagents. This is a catalytic hydrogenation reaction, and H2/Raney nickel not only reduces C–C double bonds, but also carbonyl compounds.

3

Identify the major organic product expected from the acid-catalyzed dehydration of 2-methyl-2-pentanol.

2-methyl-2-pentene

None of the other answers

2-methyl-1-pentene

3-methyl-1-pentene

cis-3-methyl-2-pentene

Explanation

The initial compound is a five-carbon alkane chain with methyl and hydroxy groups on the second carbon. Dehydration involves the hydrogenation of the hydroxy group. That group then leaves, and a double bond is formed. Zaitsev's rule states that double bonds are more stable on more highly substituted carbons. The double bond forms across carbons two and three.

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