What is the primary effect of the -COOH group on a benzene ring?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the primary effect of the -COOH group on a benzene ring?
+M effect
-M effect
+I effect
-I effect
The -COOH group primarily exhibits a -M effect as it withdraws electron density through resonance.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the primary effect of the -COOH group on a benzene ring?
Solution: The -COOH group primarily exhibits a -M effect as it withdraws electron density through resonance.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand what a benzene ring is. A benzene ring is a circular arrangement of six carbon atoms with alternating double bonds.
Step 2: Learn about the -COOH group. The -COOH group is called a carboxylic acid group and consists of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom and single-bonded to a hydroxyl group (-OH).
Step 3: Recognize that the -COOH group can affect the benzene ring. When attached to a benzene ring, the -COOH group can influence how the ring behaves chemically.
Step 4: Understand the term '-M effect'. The '-M effect' stands for 'minus mesomeric effect', which means that the group withdraws electron density from the benzene ring.
Step 5: Learn how the -COOH group withdraws electron density. It does this through resonance, which is a way that electrons can be shared or moved around in a molecule.
Step 6: Conclude that the primary effect of the -COOH group on a benzene ring is to withdraw electron density, making the ring less reactive towards electrophiles.