Sulfur Organic Chemistry

Chemistry Level 3

Benzene is reacted in a vessel containing an excess (Xs) of $\ce{SO_3}$ and fumming $\ce{H_2SO_4}$ . The major product is then transferred to a new vessel containing diluted $\ce{H_2SO_4}$ . After heating, the major product in the second vessel will contain $a$ carbon, $b$ hydrogen, $c$ sulfur, and $d$ oxygen atoms.

Find $a+b+c+d$ .

David's Organic Chemistry Set

David's Physical Chemistry Set

18 14 21 12

1 solution

David Hontz
Jun 3, 2016

Benzene undergoes the sulfonation reaction in step 1) and undergoes reverse sulfonation in step 2); therefore, the major product is benzene $(C_6H_6$ ).

Answer: $6C + 6H + 0S + 0O = 6+6 = \boxed{12 \space atoms}$

All the other choices are incorrect. If one or two of the sulfonic acid groups remained after reverse sulfonation; the answer would be 13 ( $6C+3H+1S+3O$ ) or 17 ( $6C+3H+2S+6O$ ); respectively. Because neither are choices; it can be assumed that all the sulfonic acid groups were removed.

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A Former Brilliant Member - 4 years, 3 months ago

Sulfur Organic Chemistry

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