Question

When propyl alcohol is treated with acid, the initially formed intermediate is known as an oxonium ion. There is a scheme of a reversible chemical reaction. The substrates are CH3CH2CH2OH molecule and H with a charge of 1 plus ion. The product is CH3CH2CH2OH2 with a charge of 1 plus ion. Oxygen atom in CH3CH2CH2OH molecule has 2 lone pairs. Oxygen atom in CH3CH2CH2OH2 with a charge of 1 plus ion has a lone pair. All bonds are single.

Using the curved arrow formalism, show how this process most likely occurs.

Answer 1

See explanation and image attached

Step-by-step explanation:

The question has to do with the protonation of an alcohol. We know that oxygen has two lone pairs of electrons. Now a lone pair of electrons can pick up a proton leading to the formation of a coordinate bond between the proton and the oxygen atom.

The oxygen atom in the alcohol now has a positive charge as shown in the image attached to this answer. All the bonds remain single.