JEE Main Chemistry question

Correct order of reducing power of the following carbonyl compounds

(A)HCHO > CH₃COCH₃ > φCHO
(B)CH₃COCH₃ > φCHO > HCHO
(C)HCHO > φCHO > CH₃COCH₃Correct
(D)CH₃COCH₃ > HCHO > φCHO

Answer: (C)

Solution

"Reducing power" here (the ability to reduce reagents like Tollens'/Fehling's, i.e. to be itself oxidized) correlates with how electrophilic/reactive the carbonyl carbon is toward the initiating nucleophilic attack by hydroxide in the oxidation mechanism — favoured by less steric hindrance and less electron donation

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Question ID VK-149395