Final answer:
Alcohol A (CH₃CH(CH₃)CH₂OH) is a branched primary alcohol that forms an aldehyde upon oxidation, Alcohol B (CH₃CH₂CH(OH)CH₃) is a linear secondary alcohol that can be oxidized to a ketone, and Alcohol C ((CH₃)₃COH) is a tertiary alcohol that cannot be oxidized to an aldehyde or a ketone. The structures were identified based on their oxidation behavior and carbon chain branching.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is about identifying the Lewis structures of alcohols A, B, and C, all with the composition C₄H₁₀O, based on their oxidation products and carbon chain structure. Given the information, we can determine the molecular structures as follows:
- Alcohol A: Must have a branched carbon chain and be oxidizable to an aldehyde, indicating it is a primary alcohol. The correct structure is CH₃CH(CH₃)CH₂OH.
- Alcohol B: Has a linear carbon chain and can be oxidized to a ketone, indicating it is a secondary alcohol. The correct structure is CH₃CH₂CH(OH)CH₃.
- Alcohol C: Cannot be oxidized to an aldehyde or a ketone, suggesting it is a tertiary alcohol with the -OH group on a carbon bonded to three other carbons. The correct structure is (CH₃)₃COH.
The oxidation pattern of alcohols is a useful way to determine their structure. Primary alcohols oxidize to aldehydes, secondary alcohols to ketones, and tertiary alcohols generally do not oxidize further to yield either aldehydes or ketones because they lack the necessary C-H bond on the carbon with the -OH group.