No. of `alpha-H` atoms in the product (alkene) formed when `(CH_(3))_(3)C CH(OH)CH_(3)` reacts with conc. `H_(2)SO_(4)`

Answer

To determine the number of alpha-hydrogen atoms in the product (alkene) formed when (CH₃)₃C-CH(OH)CH₃ reacts with concentrated H₂SO₄, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the structure of the reactant
The reactant is (CH₃)₃C-CH(OH)CH₃, which can be represented as:
```
CH₃
|
CH₃ - C - CH(OH) - CH₃
|
CH₃
```
This structure shows a tertiary alcohol where the hydroxyl (OH) group is attached to a carbon that is also connected to three other carbon atoms.

**Hint:** Identify the structure of the compound and note the functional groups present.

### Step 2: Protonation of the alcohol
When concentrated H₂SO₄ is added, it protonates the hydroxyl group (OH) to form a better leaving group (water). This leads to the formation of a carbocation:
```
CH₃
|
CH₃ - C⁺ - CH₂ - CH₃
|
CH₃
```
Here, the hydroxyl group has been replaced, and a positive charge is formed on the carbon atom.

**Hint:** Remember that concentrated sulfuric acid can protonate alcohols, making them more reactive.

### Step 3: Elimination of water
The next step involves the elimination of a water molecule (H₂O) from the carbocation, leading to the formation of a double bond (alkene):
```
CH₃
|
CH₃ - C = C - CH₃
|
CH₃
```
This results in the formation of an alkene.

**Hint:** The elimination of water is a key step in forming alkenes from alcohols.

### Step 4: Consider possible alkene products
In this case, two possible alkenes can form due to the position of the double bond. The first possibility has the double bond between the second and third carbon atoms, while the second possibility has the double bond between the first and second carbon atoms.

**Hint:** Identify all possible positions for the double bond to find the major product.

### Step 5: Count alpha-hydrogens
Alpha-hydrogens are the hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon atoms adjacent to the double bond. For the first alkene:
- The carbons adjacent to the double bond (alpha carbons) have 3 hydrogen atoms each.
- There are 4 alpha carbons, each with 3 hydrogens, giving a total of 12 alpha-hydrogens.

For the second alkene:
- There is only one alpha carbon with 3 hydrogens and another with 1 hydrogen, giving a total of 4 alpha-hydrogens.

**Hint:** Count the number of hydrogen atoms on the carbons adjacent to the double bond to find the alpha-hydrogens.

### Step 6: Determine the major product
The major product will be the one with the maximum number of alpha-hydrogens, which in this case is the first alkene with 12 alpha-hydrogens.

**Hint:** The stability of alkenes is often related to the number of alpha-hydrogens they possess.

### Final Answer
The number of alpha-hydrogens in the product (alkene) formed is **12**.

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