Final answer:
The major alcohol product formed when 3,3-dimethylbut-1-ene is treated with dilute acid is 3,3-dimethylbutanol, which is a tertiary alcohol product resulting from a Markovnikov addition and an electrophilic reaction mechanism.
Step-by-step explanation:
When 3,3-dimethylbut-1-ene is treated with dilute acid in a hydration reaction, the major alcohol product formed is 3,3-dimethylbutanol. This occurs via a Markovnikov addition where the hydrogen from the acid (H3O+) adds to the carbon with the greater number of hydrogens already attached, and the OH group attaches to the more substituted carbon. This results in the OH group being on the tertiary carbon creating a tertiary alcohol.
The reaction process can be described as follows: When the double bond in the alkene reacts with the acid, the double bond breaks, and a carbocation intermediate is formed. The carbocation, in this case, will be most stable on the tertiary carbon due to hyperconjugation and inductive effects. Finally, the water molecule, which is a nucleophile, attacks the carbocation, leading to the formation of 3,3-dimethylbutanol after deprotonation.
This transformation is an example of an electrophilic addition reaction typical for alkenes and is facilitated by the presence of the dilute acid as a catalyst.