Solution
Related Formula
R-CO-CH₃ NaOH + I₂ R-COONa + CHI₃ (Yellow ppt) R-CH(OH)-CH₃ NaOH + I₂ R-COONa + CHI₃ (Yellow ppt)Core Logic
The iodoform test gives a positive result for compounds containing a methyl ketone group (-CO-CH₃) or a secondary alcohol with an adjacent methyl group (-CH(OH)-CH₃), which gets oxidized to a methyl ketone under the reaction conditions.
A. Methanol vs Ethanol: Ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH) contains the -CH(OH)-CH₃ terminal structure and gives a positive test. Methanol (CH₃OH) does not. (Can differentiate) B. Neither CH₃COOH nor CH₃CH₂COOH gives the iodoform test since carboxylic acids do not undergo this reaction despite having a terminal methyl in acetic acid. (Cannot differentiate) C. Neither cyclohexene nor cyclohexanone has a methyl group adjacent to the carbonyl/alcohol carbon. (Cannot differentiate) D. Neither diethyl ether (CH₃CH₂-O-CH₂CH₃) nor pentan-3-one (CH₃CH₂-CO-CH₂CH₃) has a methyl ketone group. (Cannot differentiate) E. Acetone (CH₃-CO-CH₃) gives a positive test. Anisole (Ph-O-CH₃) does not. (Can differentiate)
Step 1: Final Selection
Only pairs A and E contain exactly one compound that gives a positive iodoform test, allowing for chemical differentiation.
Pattern Recognition
Look strictly for CH₃-C=O or CH₃-CH-OH. If a molecule lacks these exact terminal fragments, it will fail the iodoform test.
Chapter Mix
Class 12 Chemistry: Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Class 12 Chemistry: Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers