JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3o1022
Acid catalysis speeds up nucleophilic addition to a carbonyl compound mainly because
Athe acid removes the alpha hydrogen to form the enol which is the real electrophile
Bprotonation of the carbonyl oxygen makes the carbonyl carbon more electrophilic
Cprotonation of the nucleophile makes it more nucleophilic
Dprotonation converts the C=O group into a C-O single bond before attack
Answer: B
C=O protonated on oxygen has a much larger positive character on carbon, comparable to a carbocation, so even weak neutral nucleophiles such as alcohols can add. Protonating the nucleophile would lower, not raise, its reactivity.