In esterification , the reactivity of alcohols is

Options

A. 1° gt 2° gt 3°
B. 3° gt 2° gt 1°
C. Same in all cases
D. None of these

Answer

A

Explanation

The lone pair of electrons on oxygen atom of alcohol `(R-underset (* *) overset (* *)O -H)` attack the carbon of acid. Hence the reactivity of alcohols is `1^@ > 2^@ > 3^@`.