Question

3-pentanol is heated with sulphuric acid (H2SO4) to become compound M. Compound M is reacted with Br2/ H2O to form Compound N.

Outline the reaction step and name the compound M and N

Answer 1

Since 3-pentanol is a symmetrical secondary alcohol, treatment with H2SO4 gives the alkene and there is only one possible. That will be 2-pentene and that is M. Then Br2/H2O produces a bromohydrin reaction in which Br adds to one side of the double bond and OH adds to the other. Look up bromohydrin reactions to obtain that product which is N.