Sulphuric acid cannot be used during the reaction of alcohols with KI because it is a

Options

A. strong oxidant
B. strong reductant
C. weak oxidant
D. it can be used

Answer

To solve the question "Sulphuric acid cannot be used during the reaction of alcohols with KI because it is a...", we will go through the reasoning step by step.

### Step 1: Understanding the Reaction
When alcohols react with potassium iodide (KI), we expect the alcohol to be converted into an iodide. However, the presence of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) affects this reaction.

**Hint:** Consider what happens when sulfuric acid is added to the reaction mixture.

### Step 2: Analyzing the Role of Sulfuric Acid
Sulfuric acid is a strong acid that can dissociate and produce various species, including nascent oxygen. This nascent oxygen can act as a powerful oxidizing agent.

**Hint:** Think about how sulfuric acid breaks down and what products are formed.

### Step 3: Formation of HI
When H2SO4 reacts with KI, it produces potassium hydrogen sulfate (KHSO4) and hydrogen iodide (HI). The formation of HI is crucial because it is the desired product for the reaction with alcohol.

**Hint:** Write down the reaction that occurs when H2SO4 interacts with KI.

### Step 4: Oxidation of HI
The nascent oxygen generated from the dissociation of sulfuric acid can oxidize HI to iodine (I2). This is problematic because iodine cannot effectively replace the hydroxyl (OH) group in alcohols.

**Hint:** Consider what happens to HI when it is exposed to nascent oxygen.

### Step 5: Conclusion
Since the oxidation of HI to I2 prevents the desired substitution reaction from occurring, sulfuric acid cannot be used in this reaction. Therefore, the reason sulfuric acid cannot be used is that it acts as a strong oxidizing agent.

**Hint:** Identify the correct characterization of sulfuric acid based on its ability to oxidize HI.

### Final Answer
Sulfuric acid cannot be used during the reaction of alcohols with KI because it is a **strong oxidant**.