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JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3rx018

Using bond-counting by electronegativity ( $O > C > H$ , C-C bonds count zero), the oxidation numbers of the methyl carbon and the carboxyl carbon in acetic acid, $CH X_{3} COOH$ , are respectively

A $- 3$ and $+ 3$
B $0$ and $0$
C $- 4$ and $+ 4$
D $- 3$ and $+ 4$

Answer: A

Methyl C has three C-H bonds:

3 (- 1) = - 3

. Carboxyl C has C=O (

+ 2

) and C-OH (

+ 1

):

+ 3

. The sum is 0, matching the average of 0 for

C X_{2} H X_{4} O X_{2}

.

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