How many structural isomers with the molecular formula C3H8O react with Tollens' reagent? - AQA - A-Level Chemistry - Question 28 - 2018 - Paper 3
Question 28
How many structural isomers with the molecular formula C3H8O react with Tollens' reagent?
Worked Solution & Example Answer:How many structural isomers with the molecular formula C3H8O react with Tollens' reagent? - AQA - A-Level Chemistry - Question 28 - 2018 - Paper 3
Step 1
Identify Isomers
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Answer
The molecular formula C3H8O can yield several structural isomers. In this case, we need to focus on isomers that contain either an aldehyde or a ketone, as these will react with Tollens' reagent.
For C3H8O, the structural isomers include:
Propan-1-ol (1 propanol)
Propan-2-ol (2 propanol)
Ethyl methyl ether
Acetone (propan-2-one) (Note that we will not consider this, as it does not have an aldehyde group.)
Acetaldehyde (Ethanal)
Only Propan-1-ol and Acetaldehyde (Ethanal) will react with Tollens' reagent.
Step 2
Count Reacting Isomers
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Answer
After analyzing the isomers, we find that two of these isomers, Propan-1-ol and Acetaldehyde (Ethanal), will react with Tollens' reagent.
Thus, the total number of structural isomers of C3H8O that react with Tollens' reagent is 2.