A laboratory technician compares the rate of nucleophilic addition between different carbonyl compounds. Which compound reacts most rapidly due to minimal steric hindrance and electronic effects?
Q1. A laboratory technician compares the rate of nucleophilic addition between different carbonyl compounds. Which compound reacts most rapidly due to minimal steric hindrance and electronic effects?
Answer: Formaldehyde
Explanation: Formaldehyde lacks alkyl groups, making its carbonyl carbon more electrophilic than ethanal, which has a destabilizing electron-donating methyl group.