What is the correct order for the ease of dehydrating alcohols?
A) tertiary secondary primary
B) tertiary primary secondary
C) primary secondary tertiary
D) secondary tertiary primary

Question

What is the correct order for the ease of dehydrating alcohols?
A) tertiary > secondary > primary
B) tertiary > primary > secondary
C) primary > secondary > tertiary
D) secondary > tertiary > primary

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tertiary alcohols are the easiest to dehydrate because they have three alkyl groups attached to the carbon atom bearing the hydroxyl group. The alkyl groups are electron-donating and make the hydroxyl group more acidic, making it easier to lose a proton and form a carbocation. Secondary alcohols are the next easiest to dehydrate because they have two alkyl groups attached to the carbon atom bearing the hydroxyl group. Primary alcohols are the most difficult to dehydrate because they have only one alkyl group attached to the carbon atom bearing the hydroxyl group, and the resulting carbocation would be highly unstable.

What Is the Correct Order for the Ease of Dehydrating