With oxalic acid, glycerol at 503 K givesa) Allyl alcohol b) Formic acid c) Glyceraldehyde d) None of these Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Question

With oxalic acid, glycerol at 503 K givesa)                                  Allyl alcohol                               b)                                  Formic acid                               c)                                  Glyceraldehyde                               d)                                  None of these                               Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Answer

At 110⁰C glycerol reacts with oxalic acid giving formic acid. But heating at 260⁰C results allyl alcohol.

Answer

When glycerol is reacted with Oxalic acid at 383K, it gives formic acid as follows:

CH2OH-CHOH-CH2OH + COOH-COOH ------> CH2OH-CHOH-CH2OH + HCOOH at 383K

. The glycerine is used in excess amounts and hence obtained in products also.

But when , it is heated with Oxalic acid at 503K, it gives allyl alcohol,
i.e. those alcohols in which OH group attached to carbon is sp3 hybridised but the sp3 hybridised carbon is attached to sp2 hybridised carbon atom.Allyl alcohol is CH2=CH-CH2OH.

Answer

Oxalic acid is a dicarboxylic acid with the chemical formula C2H2O4. It has two carboxylic acid functional groups, which can undergo various reactions under different conditions. One such reaction is the reaction of oxalic acid with glycerol at a high temperature of 503 K.

The reaction between oxalic acid and glycerol involves the formation of an ester. An ester is a compound formed by the condensation of an alcohol and an acid, with the elimination of water. In this case, the ester formed is allyl oxalate.

The reaction can be represented as follows:
Oxalic acid + Glycerol → Allyl Oxalate + Water

Now, let's understand why the correct answer is option 'A' - Allyl alcohol.

1. Formation of Allyl Oxalate:
The reaction between oxalic acid and glycerol at 503 K leads to the formation of allyl oxalate. This is an ester formed by the condensation of the hydroxyl group of glycerol and the carboxyl group of oxalic acid.

2. Decomposition of Allyl Oxalate:
Allyl oxalate undergoes thermal decomposition at high temperatures, such as 503 K. This decomposition reaction leads to the formation of allyl alcohol and carbon dioxide.

3. Allyl Alcohol:
Allyl alcohol is the final product obtained from the reaction of oxalic acid with glycerol at 503 K. It is an unsaturated alcohol with the chemical formula C3H6O. Allyl alcohol is a colorless liquid with a pungent odor.

In conclusion, the correct answer is option 'A' - Allyl alcohol. The reaction between oxalic acid and glycerol at 503 K initially forms allyl oxalate, which then decomposes to yield allyl alcohol and carbon dioxide.

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