Question

The formation of oxonium salt when ether reacts with strong mineral acids is called:
(A) deprotonation
(B) electronation
(C) dehydration
(D) protonation

Answer 1

Hint: Find out what is meant by an oxonium salt. Write the reaction which takes place when ether reacts with mineral acids. Look at all the terms given in the options and see which option best describes the reaction.


Complete step by step solution:
- Let’s begin by writing the chemical reaction.
- When ether reacts with strong mineral acids, ether is protonated due to the presence of an acidic environment. This intermediate is unstable. One alcohol group is lost and oxonium salt is obtained.
\[R-O-{{R}^{'}}\,+\,\underset{conc.}{\mathop{HCl}}\,\to \underset{Oxonium\,\,ion}{\mathop{R-{{O}^{-}}}}\,+{{R}^{'}}-OH\]
- Let’s see what each term given in options are.
- Deprotonation is the process of removal of protons.
- Electronation is the process of addition of an electron to a neutral molecule to form anion.
- Dehydration is the process of removal of water molecules.
- Protonation is the process of addition of protons.
- In this reaction, the only option which describes the changes taking place is protonation because first, ether gets protonated to form an intermediate which is unstable and quickly breaks down to form oxonium ion and releases corresponding alcohol.

- Therefore, the correct option is option (D).


Note: Always write the reaction and then come to a conclusion. Don’t get confused that strong mineral acids will dehydrate the compounds. Remember ethers on reaction with acid will release alcohol and alcohols on reaction with acid get dehydrated and release water.