Question

ASCENT of series is:
(A) The conversion of lower alcohol to higher alcohol.
(B) The conversion of lower alkane to higher alkane.
(C) Both A and B.
(D) The conversion of higher organic compounds into its lower homologene.

Answer 1

Hint: You can also call the ASCENT of series as STEPPING UP the series. You convert the organic compound into its higher homologue. For this purpose, you increase the number of carbon atoms by one. In other words, you introduce additional carbon atoms.

Complete step by step answer:
In the homologous series, you will find the same functional group. Each successive member of the homologous series has an additional carbon atom. For example, consider the homologous series of primary alcohols. All the members of this series have the functional group $$-\text{C}{\text{H}}_2\text{OH}$$. Each successive member of the primary alcohol homologous series has an additional methylene group. Write the formula of some members of the primary alcohol homologous series as shown below:
$$\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}\text{OH, C}{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{OH, C}{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{OH, C}{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{OH}$$
Now consider the homologous series of alkanes. All the members of this contain carbon-carbon single bonds and carbon-hydrogen single bonds only. Each successive member of the alkane homologous series has an additional methylene group. Write the formula of some members of the alkane homologous series as shown below:
$$\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}\text{, C}{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}\text{, C}{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}\text{, C}{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{C}{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}$$
ASCENT of series is:
(A) The conversion of lower alcohol to higher alcohol
(B) The conversion of lower alkane to higher alkane
On the other hand, the conversion of higher organic compounds into its lower homologene is known as DESCENT.

Hence, the correct option is the option (C) Both A and B.

Note: You can ASCENT the series by using Wurtz reaction, Grignard reaction, or by introducing a cyanide group. You can use Wurtz reaction to ASCENT homologous series of hydrocarbons. You can use Grignard reaction or cyanide method for the conversion of lower alcohol to higher alcohol.