The most appropriate reagent for the conversion of 2-butanone into propanoic acid is

Options

A. chromic acid
B. dilute `KMnO_(4)`
C. alkaline `KMnO_(4),Delta`
D. Sodium hypochlorite

Explanation

To convert 2-butanone into propanoic acid, we need to identify the most appropriate reagent that can facilitate this transformation. Let's break down the steps involved in this reaction.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Structure of 2-Butanone**:
- 2-butanone is a ketone with the molecular formula C4H8O. Its structure can be represented as:
\[ CH_3-CO-CH_2-CH_3 \]
- This means it has a carbonyl group (C=O) at the second carbon.

2. **Understanding the Target Product**:
- Propanoic acid has the molecular formula C3H6O2 and its structure is:
\[ CH_3-CH_2-COOH \]
- This indicates that we need to reduce the number of carbon atoms from 4 in 2-butanone to 3 in propanoic acid.

3. **Analyzing the Reagents**:
- The options provided are:
- Chromic acid
- Dilute KMnO4
- Alkaline KMnO4 with heat
- Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)
- Chromic acid, dilute KMnO4, and alkaline KMnO4 are strong oxidizing agents. They would oxidize 2-butanone but would not reduce the carbon count; they would instead convert it to a carboxylic acid without degradation.

4. **Choosing the Correct Reagent**:
- Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is a mild oxidizing agent that can facilitate the haloform reaction. In this reaction, 2-butanone reacts with NaOCl, leading to the cleavage of the carbon chain and the formation of propanoic acid.
- The haloform reaction involves the formation of a haloform (like chloroform) and the corresponding carboxylic acid, effectively reducing the carbon chain length.

5. **Conclusion**:
- The most appropriate reagent for converting 2-butanone into propanoic acid is sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl).

### Final Answer:
The most appropriate reagent for the conversion of 2-butanone into propanoic acid is **sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)**.

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