Question 4

[matthew]

Dear Dr. Ferdinand,

During the exam I had to choose b/w A or D. Doesn't the product qualify as an acid with the OH, well... weak acid? What made choice D the right one?

[admin]

D is correct because it is an alcohol and Table 1 says that alcohols give a positive sulfuric acid test. The MCAT likes to show a big molecule when the only thing that really matters are the functional groups (-OH in this situation).

Answer choice A is not an option because of the colon . . . Organic acids: carboxylic acids and phenols.

Alcohols are not considered organic acids because they are so weak as acids but, more importantly, Table 1 does not include alcohols it its own definition of organic acids.

[admin]

bump