JEE Main Chemistry question

Ethyl alcohol reacts with HCl but not with HCN because

(A) is a weak base and HCN is a weak acid
(B) is a strong acid and HCN is a weak acid
(C)HCl is a strong acid and is a weak baseCorrect
(D)None of the above

Answer: (C)

Solution

Protonation of the alcohol's oxygen (a weak base) to initiate substitution requires a sufficiently strong acid; HCl is a strong acid and can protonate ethanol to enable

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Question ID VK-148799