Given below are two statements:
Statement I: C₂H₅OH and AgCN both can generate nucleophiles.
Statement II: KCN and AgCN both will generate nitrile nucleophiles with all reaction conditions.
Choose the most appropriate option:

Question

Given below are two statements:

Statement I: C₂H₅OH and AgCN both can generate nucleophiles.

Statement II: KCN and AgCN both will generate nitrile nucleophiles with all reaction conditions.

Choose the most appropriate option:

TestHub · Accepted Answer

C₂H₅OH has lone pair on oxygen and can act as a weak nucleophile (or form ethoxide, a stronger nucleophile), and AgCN also provides nucleophilic CN⁻ species, so Statement I is true.
KCN is largely ionic and gives CN⁻ which attacks through carbon to form nitriles.
AgCN is covalent and favors attack through nitrogen, giving isocyanides instead of nitriles.
Hence Statement II is false because both do not always give nitrile products under all conditions.
Therefore, the correct option is (A).

Chemistry - ALCOHOL & ETHER Question with Solution | TestHub

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