Question detail
Which of the following statements is true regarding the reactivity of acyl chlorides compared to acid anhydrides?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Carboxylic acids and derivatives (A-level only)
Question
- A. Acyl chlorides are more reactive than acid anhydrides.
- B. Acyl chlorides are less reactive than acid anhydrides.
- C. Both have the same reactivity.
- D. Acid anhydrides are only reactive with alcohols.
Answer
Acyl chlorides are more reactive than acid anhydrides.
Explanation
The correct option is Acyl chlorides are more reactive than acid anhydrides.. Acyl chlorides are more reactive than acid anhydrides. is the best answer because it directly supports the AQA A-Level Chemistry objective to explain reactions of acyl chlorides and acid anhydrides. This reasoning is anchored to Carboxylic acids, esters and acyl derivatives (A-level only) in Carboxylic acids and derivatives (A-level only), and it separates acyl chloride from similar A-Level ideas rather than relying on a vague recall statement. Other options are weaker if they use the wrong evidence, calculation, mechanism, observation, unit, or conclusion for this subtopic.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Reactivity
Students often confuse the reactivity of acyl chlorides with that of carboxylic acids, thinking they react in the same way with nucleophiles.
Remember that acyl chlorides are more reactive than carboxylic acids due to the presence of the chlorine atom, which is a better leaving group. Focus on the mechanism of nucleophilic addition-elimination for acyl chlorides.
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