Given below are two statements:
Statement (I): Benzyl chloride reacts faster in mechanism than ethyl chloride.
Statement (II): Ethyl carbocation intermediate is less stabilized by hyperconjugation than benzyl carbocation by resonance.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Statement (I): Benzyl chloride reacts faster in mechanism than ethyl chloride.
Statement (II): Ethyl carbocation intermediate is less stabilized by hyperconjugation than benzyl carbocation by resonance.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- (A)Both Statement I and Statement II are true✓ Correct
- (B)Both Statement I and Statement II are false
- (C)Statement I is true but Statement II is false
- (D)Statement I is false but Statement II is true
Answer: (A)
Solution
In an reaction the rate follows the stability of the carbocation formed. The benzyl cation is stabilised by resonance delocalisation into the aromatic ring over several structures, whereas the ethyl cation relies only on hyperconjugation from three alpha-hydrogens, a weaker effect; the benzyl cation is therefore far more stable and benzyl chloride ionises faster than ethyl chloride. Both statements are true.
JEE Main · 2026 · 02 Apr 2026 · Shift 1 · Single correct option