Which of the following options contains the LEAST number of covalent bonds on a mole for mole basis?

#A.# #HOH_2C-CH_2OH#

#B.# #HOH_2C-CH_3#

#C.# #HO(O=)C-C(=O)OH#

#D.# #HO(O=)C-CH_2OH#

1 Answer
anor277
May 2, 2017

If I am reading this right, then it is #"option B"#........

Explanation:

#A.# #HOH_2C-CH_2OH# has #1xxC-C# bond, #4xxC-H# bonds, #2xxC-O# bonds, #2xxO-H# bonds, NINE bonds in total.

#B.# #HOH_2C-CH_3# has #1xxC-C# bond, #5xxC-H# bonds, #1xxC-O# bonds, #1xxO-H# bonds, EIGHT bonds in total.

#C.# #HO(O=)C-C(=O)OH# has #1xxC-C# bond #2xxC=O# bonds, #2xxO-H# bonds, NINE bonds in total if we count each #C=O# as 2 bonds.

#D.# #HO(O=)C-CH_2OH# has #1xxC-C# bond #1xxC=O# bonds, #2xxC-H# bonds, #2xxO-H# bonds, #2xxC-O# bonds, NINE bonds in total if we count the #C=O# as 2 bonds.

Do you agree with this count? It is easy to number the bonds if you write down the formulae on paper..............

Again, remember I counted #C=O# AS TWO COVALENT BONDS.

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