Identify the correct statement for the below given transformation.
CH₃-CH₂-CH₂-CH-CH₃ →(C₂H₅ONa) A + B

Solution

Chemistry ma’am · 3 steps

A bulky, positively charged leaving group means the Hofmann rule: the less substituted alkene wins.

1. Find the β-hydrogens. The -N⁺(CH₃)₃ group sits on C2 of a pentane chain. Ethoxide can remove a β-hydrogen from C1 (a CH₃) or from C3 (a CH₂), and N(CH₃)₃ leaves.

   β-carbon used	Hydrogens there	Alkene formed	Product
   C1 (CH₃)	3, primary, exposed	CH₃CH₂CH₂CH=CH₂, less substituted	A, major (Hofmann)
   C3 (CH₂)	2, secondary, more crowded	CH₃CH₂CH=CHCH₃, more substituted	B, minor (Saytzeff)

2. Why Hofmann here. -N⁺(CH₃)₃ is bulky, so the base reaches the open CH₃ hydrogens more easily. It is also a poor leaving group, so the C–H bond breaks well before the C–N bond. That builds negative charge on the β-carbon, and a primary carbon carries that charge best.
3. So. The major product A is pent-1-ene and the minor product B is pent-2-ene. Because the less substituted alkene is the major product, these are Hofmann products, which is option (c).

The idea to keep. When the leaving group is -N⁺(CH₃)₃ or another bulky, charged group, expect the Hofmann alkene. The base pulls the most accessible, most acidic β-H, usually from a CH₃.

Answer from the NTA final answer key. Solution by PrepWiser.