Question

Which is the incorrect statement with regard to 1-phenylethanol?

• A. It is a primary alcohol
• B. It is an aromatic alcohol
• C. It forms a ketone on oxidation
• D. It is optically active
• E. It liberates H\(_2\) when treated with metallic sodium

Hint:

In organic chemistry, alcohols are classified based on the number of carbon atoms attached to the carbon bearing the hydroxyl group. A primary alcohol has one carbon attached to the hydroxyl-bearing carbon, a secondary alcohol has two, and a tertiary alcohol has three.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: 1-Phenylethanol has the structure \( {C}_6{H}_5{CH}_2{OH} \), which is a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to an ethyl group (\( {CH}_2{CH}_3 \)) bound to a benzene ring. This compound is classified as a secondary alcohol because the carbon bearing the hydroxyl group is attached to two other carbons, not one. Therefore, it is not a primary alcohol.
Step 2: The other statements are correct:
- Option (B): 1-Phenylethanol is an aromatic alcohol because it has a phenyl group (a benzene ring) attached to the alcohol functional group.
- Option (C): Upon oxidation, 1-phenylethanol forms acetophenone, which is a ketone.
- Option (D): 1-Phenylethanol is optically active because the carbon bearing the hydroxyl group is chiral.
- Option (E): Like most alcohols, 1-phenylethanol reacts with metallic sodium to liberate hydrogen gas (H\(_2\)).
Thus, the incorrect statement is option (A), which states that 1-phenylethanol is a primary alcohol.