Question

Which of the following reagents could be used to distinguish between butanone and tert-butyl alcohol?

• A. Lucas reagent
• B. $ZnC{l}_{2}andconc.HCl$
• C. $H_{2}Cr{O}_4$
• D. PCC

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B)

The correct options are
A

Lucas reagent

B

$ZnC{l}_{2}andconc.HCl$

Lucas reagent is anhydrous $ZnC{l}_{2}dissolvedinconc.HCl$. Tertiary alcohols give a positive Lucas test within seconds. Aldehydes and ketones do not give the Lucas test – they don’t react with the reagent. $H_{2}Cr{O}_4$ and PCC don’t react with either of the compounds.