JEE Main · 2026 · 04 Apr 2026 · Shift 1 · Alcohols Phenols and Ethers

A compound dissolves in aqueous sodium hydroxide only if it is appreciably more acidic than water, that is, phenols and carboxylic acids that form water-soluble sodium salts. Benzaldehyde, $N,N$-dimethylcyclohexanamine, di-$tert$-butylbenzene and 1-naphthalenemethanol are respectively an aldehyde, an amine, a hydrocarbon and a primary alcohol, none acidic enough to react. The phenols 1-naphthol, $p$-dimethylaminophenol and $p$-cresol, together with the carboxylic acids benzoic acid and 1-naphthoic acid, each form a sodium salt and dissolve. The number of compounds soluble in aqueous $\mathrm{NaOH}$ is five.