JEE Main 2026 — Alcohols Phenols and Ethers Question with Solution
JEE Main 2026 (02 April Shift 2)
Question
A molecule (X) with following structure under mild acidic condition is hydrolysed to produce (Y) and (Z). Identify the correct statements about (Y) and (Z).
A. Both (Y) and (Z) have same molar mass.
B. (Y) and (Z) can be distinguished from each other by .
C. (Y) and (Z) react with HCN with same rates.
D. (Y) and (Z) undergo addition reaction with -DNP.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
A. Both (Y) and (Z) have same molar mass.
B. (Y) and (Z) can be distinguished from each other by .
C. (Y) and (Z) react with HCN with same rates.
D. (Y) and (Z) undergo addition reaction with -DNP.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Choose an option
Show full solutionCorrect option: D
Correct answer
DA and D Only
Step-by-step explanation
Molecule is an ether with two enol ether functional groups attached to the central oxygen atom. On mild acidic hydrolysis, an enol ether cleaves to give a carbonyl compound and an alcohol.
The -propenyl side hydrolyses to propanal, .
The isopropenyl side hydrolyses to the enol of acetone, which tautomerises to acetone, .
Therefore, and are propanal and acetone.
Statement A: Both and have the same molar mass.
Propanal and acetone are functional isomers with the same molecular formula and hence the same molar mass .
Statement A is true.
Statement B: and can be distinguished by .
reacts only with carboxylic acids (releasing ). Neither an aldehyde nor a ketone reacts with , so it cannot distinguish between them.
Statement B is false.
Statement C: and react with HCN at the same rate.
In nucleophilic addition to carbonyls, aldehydes react faster than ketones due to lower steric hindrance and a more electrophilic carbonyl carbon (fewer alkyl groups). So propanal reacts faster than acetone.
Statement C is false.
Statement D: and undergo addition reaction with -DNP.
Both aldehydes and ketones react with -DNP (Brady's reagent) by nucleophilic addition followed by loss of water to give coloured -dinitrophenylhydrazone precipitates.
Statement D is true.
Hence, the correct statements are A and D only, which corresponds to option .
The -propenyl side hydrolyses to propanal, .
The isopropenyl side hydrolyses to the enol of acetone, which tautomerises to acetone, .
Therefore, and are propanal and acetone.
Statement A: Both and have the same molar mass.
Propanal and acetone are functional isomers with the same molecular formula and hence the same molar mass .
Statement A is true.
Statement B: and can be distinguished by .
reacts only with carboxylic acids (releasing ). Neither an aldehyde nor a ketone reacts with , so it cannot distinguish between them.
Statement B is false.
Statement C: and react with HCN at the same rate.
In nucleophilic addition to carbonyls, aldehydes react faster than ketones due to lower steric hindrance and a more electrophilic carbonyl carbon (fewer alkyl groups). So propanal reacts faster than acetone.
Statement C is false.
Statement D: and undergo addition reaction with -DNP.
Both aldehydes and ketones react with -DNP (Brady's reagent) by nucleophilic addition followed by loss of water to give coloured -dinitrophenylhydrazone precipitates.
Statement D is true.
Hence, the correct statements are A and D only, which corresponds to option .
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This is a previous-year question from JEE Main 2026, covering the Alcohols Phenols and Ethers chapter of Chemistry. PrepSharp catalogues every PYQ from JEE Main with a verified answer key and step-by-step solution prepared by IIT alumni — so you can search by chapter, topic or year and revise efficiently.