Amongst the following, the total number of compounds soluble in aqueous NaOH is
(see structure)
A 
B 
C 
D 
E 
F 
G 
H
(see structure)
Answer: 4
Solution
Compounds soluble in aqueous NaOH are those with acidic groups (phenols, carboxylic acids, or sufficiently acidic groups).
Examining the structures:
Total soluble: 4 compounds (cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, phenol, 4-(dimethylamino)phenol, and 1-naphthoic acid).
Examining the structures:
- N,N-dimethylaniline - not acidic, insoluble
- Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid - carboxylic acid, soluble
- 2-ethoxybenzyl alcohol - not acidic enough, insoluble
- Phenol - weakly acidic, soluble
- Nitrobenzene - not acidic, insoluble
- 4-(dimethylamino)phenol - phenol derivative, soluble
- 1,2-diethylbenzene - not acidic, insoluble
- 1-naphthoic acid - carboxylic acid, soluble
Total soluble: 4 compounds (cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, phenol, 4-(dimethylamino)phenol, and 1-naphthoic acid).
JEE Advanced · 2010 · 11 Apr 2010 · Paper 1 · Integer answer