When treating an unknown alcohol with the Lucas reagent (anhydrous and conc. ), turbidity appears im — Alcohols Phenols and Ethers Chemistry Question
Question
When treating an unknown alcohol with the Lucas reagent (anhydrous $ZnCl_2$ and conc. $HCl$), turbidity appears immediately at room temperature. The alcohol is most likely:
Answer: A
💡 Solution & Explanation
Tertiary alcohols (like 2-methylpropan-2-ol) react instantly with the Lucas reagent via an $S_N1$ mechanism to form an insoluble alkyl chloride, yielding immediate turbidity. Primary alcohols do not produce turbidity at room temperature.
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