Do Lucas Test always give true results?

Lucas test is used to distinguish between primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols. Lucas test progress through the formation of carbocation in case of secondary and tertiary alcohols. and there is always a possibility of rearrangement in such case. Then why this test is used????

11 Answers

1
voldy ·

what if does rearrange ? doesn't make a diference . you are neither finding out the structure nor are you worried about the next obtained product. you just wanna know whether it's 3 , 2 or 1 alcohol. the relative rates of reaction give it to you . You uoght to know whether it's an alcohol first , for which there are other tests , this is only to determine to nature of alcohol.

11
Sunil Kumar ·

If rearrangement occurs then the secondary carbocation changes to the more stable tertiary alcohol to give the final product as tertiary alcohol.
lucas test is meant to distinguish between primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols.
but due to rearangement secondary alcohol give tertiary alcohols which will not give correct results..

11
Sunil Kumar ·

hey someone give me the correct answer to this?

1
voldy ·

well , how to tell ????

see , basically , the formation of the carbocation from the alcohol is rds . does this hhelp ?

1
prateek punj ·

u cann't say this abt carbocation formation.....
in case of primary also there can be arrangement....
but we r concerned with the the rate of formation of haloalkane in this process.....
since in the order of stability of carbocation is...
tertiary>secondary>primary

so in case of tertiary turbidity is prooduced more quickly than secondary and then for primary....
so we r concerned with the time taken by them to go thru the rxn

1
prateek punj ·

if any doubt ask it...

19
Debotosh.. ·

actually what Lucas test does is that it spots the time in which the ppt of the halide forms....it is fastest for tertiary halides and slowest for the primary halides !

1
champ ·

organic,
why are you posting the answers to those questions which already have been answered ?

19
Debotosh.. ·

because i want to explore every single bit of organic.....anyways...what i see here is that discussions in the organic forum has been really half hearted and so i am trying to fill in some of the deficit with my small bit of knowledge in organic !!!

1
champ ·

Then it is fine .
Carry on the good work
[1]

19
Debotosh.. ·

THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENTS !!!!

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