Consider the following acids
1. `MeCH_(2)COOH`
2. `Me_(2)CHCOOH`
3. `Me_(3)C COOH`
4. `Et_(3)C COOH`
Correct order of the rate of esterification of these acids with `MeOH` is

Options

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

Answer

To determine the correct order of the rate of esterification of the given acids with methanol (MeOH), we need to analyze the structure of each acid and how the steric hindrance affects the esterification reaction.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Acids**:
- 1. `MeCH₂COOH` (Propanoic acid)
- 2. `Me₂CHCOOH` (Isobutyric acid)
- 3. `Me₃CCOOH` (Tert-butanoic acid)
- 4. `Et₃CCOOH` (Tert-pentanoic acid)

2. **Understand Esterification**:
- Esterification is a reaction between an acid and an alcohol (in this case, methanol) to form an ester and water. The rate of this reaction can be influenced by steric hindrance around the carboxylic acid group.

3. **Analyze Steric Hindrance**:
- **Steric hindrance** refers to the crowding around a reactive site, which can slow down the reaction. The more bulky the substituents around the carboxylic acid, the slower the reaction will be.
- For `MeCH₂COOH`, there is minimal steric hindrance since it has only one methyl group.
- For `Me₂CHCOOH`, there is moderate steric hindrance due to the two methyl groups.
- For `Me₃CCOOH`, there is significant steric hindrance because of the three methyl groups.
- For `Et₃CCOOH`, the three ethyl groups create even more steric hindrance than the tert-butanoic acid.

4. **Rate of Esterification**:
- The order of esterification will be inversely related to the steric hindrance:
- Least hindered: `MeCH₂COOH` (fastest)
- Moderate hindrance: `Me₂CHCOOH`
- More hindered: `Me₃CCOOH`
- Most hindered: `Et₃CCOOH` (slowest)

5. **Correct Order**:
- Based on the analysis, the correct order of the rate of esterification with methanol is:
- `MeCH₂COOH` > `Me₂CHCOOH` > `Me₃CCOOH` > `Et₃CCOOH`

### Final Answer:
The correct order of the rate of esterification of these acids with MeOH is:
1. `MeCH₂COOH`
2. `Me₂CHCOOH`
3. `Me₃CCOOH`
4. `Et₃CCOOH`