Question

List the following esters in order from most reactive to least reactive toward hydrolysis CH₃.

a) Methyl acetate, Ethyl acetate, Propyl acetate
b) Propyl acetate, Ethyl acetate, Methyl acetate
c) Ethyl acetate, Propyl acetate, Methyl acetate
d) Methyl acetate, Propyl acetate, Ethyl acetate

Answer 1

The esters are listed from most reactive to least reactive toward hydrolysis as Methyl acetate, Ethyl acetate, and Propyl acetate, due to decreasing solubility in water and increasing steric hindrance with a larger alkyl group size.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks to list the following esters in order from most reactive to least reactive toward hydrolysis: Methyl acetate, Ethyl acetate, and Propyl acetate. The reactivity of esters towards hydrolysis generally decreases as the alkyl group attached to the oxygen becomes larger due to the increasing steric hindrance and decreasing solubility in water.

Therefore, the correct order from most reactive to least reactive towards hydrolysis is:

1. Methyl acetate (CH₃CO₂CH₃)
2. Ethyl acetate (CH₃CO₂CH₂CH₃)
3. Propyl acetate (CH₃CO₂CH₂CH₂CH₃)

So the correct answer is option (a) Methyl acetate, Ethyl acetate, Propyl acetate.