Alkaline Hydrolysis of an Ester Involves Initial Attack by Hydroxide

question 3

Multiple Choice

Alkaline hydrolysis of an ester involves initial attack by hydroxide ion on the carbonyl carbon.The presence of substituents on the aromatic ring of ethyl benzoate may be expected to increase/decrease the rate of hydrolysis of this ester.In what order should the five substituents below be arranged to represent the decreasing order of the rates of hydrolysis when these substituents are present in the para position of the aromatic ring in ethyl benzoate?

• A)-NO₂ > -H > -Cl > -CH₃ > -OCH₃
• B)-NO₂ > -Cl > -H > -CH₃ > -OCH₃
• C)-OCH₃ > -CH₃ > -Cl > -H > -NO₂
• D)-Cl > -NO₂ > -H > -OCH₃ > -CH₃
• E)-H > -Cl > -CH₃ > -OCH₃ > -NO₂

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Definitions:

Cross-Classification Table

A table that displays the frequency distribution of variables to show how they are distributed across each other.

Nominal Variables

Categories without a natural order or rank, such as gender, race, or religion, used for labeling variables.

Interval Variables

Variables measured along a scale in which the intervals between values are interpretable, but without a true zero point.

Scatter Diagram

A graphical representation using dots to show the relationship between two quantitative variables.