Organic Chemistry> reactivity...

why tertiary hydrogen is more reactive than secondary or primary

sayalee Bhanavase , 14 Years ago

Grade 11

2 Answers

SAGAR SINGH - IIT DELHI

Last Activity: 14 Years ago

Dear student,

The single tertiary hydrogen "b" is nearly as susceptible as the six, primary "a" hydrogens, and almost doubly susceptible as any of the three, also-primary "d" hydrogens, illustrating the radical stability differences between tertiary and primary hydrogens.

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Askiitians Expert

Sagar Singh

B.Tech, IIT Delhi

mae

Last Activity: 6 Years ago

To determine why a third dergree hydrogen is reactive we remove it.

A third degree hydrogen or tertiary hydrogen when removed will give us a tertiary carbocation.

A second degree hydrogen when removed will give us a seconday carbocation.

A first degree hydrogen or primary hydrogen when removed will give us a primary carbocation.

And a tertiary carbocation is favoured more as it is more stable than a secondary carbocation or a first degree carbocation thus, Third degree hydrogens are most reactive.