4. Given the following reactions determine whether each will favor the products

Question

4. Given the following reactions determine whether each will favor the products or the reactants:

Reaction 1:
Acetylide + Ethanol     Acetylene + Ethoxide (pKa Acetylene=25, pKa Ethanol=16)
Reaction 2:
Ethoxide Ion + Hydrocyanic Acid Ethanol + Cyanide Ion (pKa Ethanol=16, pKa Hydrocyanic Acid=9.3)

A. Reaction 1 favors products, Reaction 2 favors products
B. Reaction 1 favors products, Reaction 2 favors reactants
C. Reaction 1 favors reactants, Reaction 2 favors products
D. Reaction 1 favors reactants, Reaction 2 favors reactants

Explanation / Answer

Reaction 1:
Acetylide + Ethanol = Acetylene + Ethoxide (pKa Acetylene =25, pKa Ethanol =16)

pKa of acetylene > pKa of Ethanol indicates that ethanol is more acidic than Acetylene. So, the reaction will favour product formation.

Reaction 2:

Ethoxide Ion + Hydrocyanic Acid = Ethanol + Cyanide Ion

(pKa Ethanol=16, pKa Hydrocyanic Acid=9.3)

pKa of ethanol > pKa of Hydrocyanic Acid indicates that Hydrocyanic Acid is more acidic than Ethanol. So, the reaction will favour product formation.

So, option A is the correct option.

A. Reaction 1 favors products, Reaction 2 favors products

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