Arrange the following compounds in an increasing order of their reactivity in nucleophilic addition reactions: ethanol, propanal, propanone, butanone.

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Solution

Positive inductive effect (+I groups) increases the electron density on carbonyl carbon which leads to the generation of carbocation which favours nucleophilic addition (so more the +I group more will be the ability of formation of carbocation so more is the ease to under go nucleophilic addition reaction).
So, from ethanal to butanone, +I effect increase due to bulky carbon chain so the order of nucleophilicity is $E t h a n a l > p r o p a n a l > p r o p a n a o n e > B u t a n o n e$ .

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Arrange the following compounds in increasing order of their reactivity in nucleophilic addition reactions.

(i) Ethanal, Propanal, Propanone, Butanone.

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Hint: Consider steric effect and electronic effect.

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