Given below are two statements: Statement I: The esterification of carboxylic acid with an alcohol is a nucleophilic acyl substitution. Statement II: Electron withdrawing groups in the carboxylic acid will increase the rate of esterification reaction. Choose the most appropriate option:
(A)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.✓ Correct
(B)Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect.
(C)Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.
(D)Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.
Answer: (A)
Solution
Statement I is correct: Esterification is indeed a nucleophilic acyl substitution where the alcohol acts as a nucleophile attacking the carbonyl carbon of the carboxylic acid. Statement II is also correct: Electron-withdrawing groups (EWG) on the carboxylic acid increase the electrophilicity of the carbonyl carbon by reducing electron density, making it more susceptible to nucleophilic attack by the alcohol. This accelerates the esterification reaction. Both statements are correct, so the answer is (A).
JEE Main · 2022 · 29 Jun 2022 · Shift 1 · Single correct option