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JEE Advanced levelOne or more correct optionsDifficulty 3 of 3ro162

Which statements about ester hydrolysis are correct?

  1. AAlkaline hydrolysis of an ester is effectively irreversible because the carboxylic acid formed is converted to its carboxylate.
  2. BAcid-catalysed hydrolysis of an ester is reversible.
  3. CIn aqueous NaOH, ethyl trichloroethanoate is hydrolysed faster than ethyl ethanoate.
  4. DAmides are hydrolysed more readily than esters under the same conditions.

Answer: A, B, C

Deprotonation of the acid by base pulls the equilibrium to the products, so (A) holds; in acid medium the acid and alcohol re-esterify, so (B) holds. The group strongly withdraws electrons and makes the carbonyl more electrophilic, so (C) holds. Amides are less reactive than esters, so (D) is wrong.
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