JEE Main 2024 · 1 February · morning · Single correct · +4 / −1
Ionic reactions with organic compounds proceed through :
(A) homolytic bond cleavage
(B) heterolytic bond cleavage
(C) free radical formation
(D) primary free radical
(E) secondary free radical
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
- (a) (A) only
- (b) (B) only
- (c) (C) only
- (d) (D) and (E) only
Answer and solution
Answer (b) (B) only
Solution
Chemistry ma’am · 3 steps
Ask what the bond breaking gives you: ions come only when one atom keeps both electrons.
- Heterolytic cleavage. In heterolytic cleavage, the more electronegative atom takes both electrons of the shared pair. This gives a cation and an anion, for example a carbocation or a carbanion, so the reaction runs through ions.
- Homolytic cleavage. In homolytic cleavage, each atom keeps one electron of the pair. This gives neutral free radicals, not ions.
Statement What it gives Fits an ionic reaction? (A) homolytic cleavage free radicals No (B) heterolytic cleavage ions (carbocation, carbanion) Yes (C) free radical formation neutral species with an unpaired electron No (D), (E) primary and secondary free radicals neutral radicals No - So. Only (B) describes an ionic pathway. Statements (A), (C), (D) and (E) all belong to free radical reactions, so the answer is (b).
The idea to keep. Unequal sharing of the broken pair gives ions, so ionic (polar) reactions mean heterolytic cleavage. Equal sharing gives radicals, so radical reactions mean homolytic cleavage.
Answer from the NTA final answer key. Solution by PrepWiser.