Amongst the following alcohols which would react fastest with conc. $\mathrm{HCl}$ and $\mathrm{ZnCl}_2$ ?

Amongst the following alcohols which would react fastest with conc. $\mathrm{HCl}$ and $\mathrm{ZnCl}_2$ ?
  1. pentanol
  2. 2-methyl butanol
  3. 2-pentanol
  4. 2-methyl butan-2-ol

Solution

$\mathrm{ZnCl}_2+$ conc. $\mathrm{HCl}$ is Lucas reagent. Lucas reagent reacts fastest with tertiary alcohol. $3^{\circ}$ alcohol $+$ Lucas reagent $=$ Immediate turbidity

Asked in: JEE Main 2013 (22 Apr Online)

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