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JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3o2021

The rates of addition of HBr (dark) to the alkenes follow the order

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D

Answer: C

The slow step is protonation to a carbocation. 2-Methylpropene gives a tertiary cation, propene a secondary one, and ethene the unstable primary ethyl cation (in the transition state). The rate order is therefore .
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