Q.Choose the most suitable reagent to convert the methyl ketone CH3-CH=CH-CH2-CO-CH3 (hex-4-en-2-one) into the carboxylic acid CH3-CH=CH-CH2-COOH (pent-3-enoic acid) - that is, a reagent that removes the terminal CH3CO- (methyl-ketone) carbon and installs a -COOH group while leaving the C=C double bond intact.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Haloform (Iodoform) Reaction
Haloform (Iodoform) Reaction
The haloform reaction is a characteristic reaction of methyl ketones (compounds containing the CH3-CO- group) and of ethanal and ethanol (which carry the CH3-CH(OH)- unit). When such a compound is treated with a halogen (X2) in the presence of a base (NaOH), the three hydrogens of the methyl group are successively replaced by halogen, and the resulting trihalomethyl carbonyl compound is then cleaved by hydroxide.
The overall result is that the CH3-CO- fragment is lost as a haloform (CHX3), while the rest of the molecule is converted into a carboxylate ion (and, on acidification, a carboxylic acid). For example, with iodine and NaOH a methyl ketone R-CO-CH3 gives R-COO−Na+ and a yellow precipitate of iodoform, CHI3:
R-CO-CH3+3I2+4NaOH→R-COONa+CHI3↓+3NaI+3H2O …
The substrate is a methyl ketone (has a CH3-CO- group). Methyl ketones undergo the iodoform (haloform) reaction with I2/NaOH, which cleaves off the CH3 as iodoform (CHI3) and converts the rest into a carboxylate (one carbon fewer), i.e. the carboxylic acid after acidification. …
Converting a methyl ketone into a carboxylic acid with one carbon fewer is exactly the iodoform (haloform) reaction. I2 in NaOH cleaves the CH3-CO- group, releasing iodoform (CHI3) and leaving a carboxylate that becomes the acid on acidification. Hence option (iii).
Concept
A compound bearing a CH3-CO- group (a methyl ketone) undergoes the haloform reaction: the three alpha-hydrogens of the methyl are replaced by halogen, then base cleaves the C-C bond to give a carboxylate and the trihalomethane (here iodoform, CHI3).
Applying it
Substrate: CH3-CH=CH-CH2-CO-CH3 (a methyl ketone, the CH3-CO- at the right end).
- I2/NaOH triiodinates the terminal methyl to give CH3-CH=CH-CH2-CO-CI3.
- Hydroxide attacks the carbonyl and cleaves the C-CI3 bond.
- Products: CH3-CH=CH-CH2-COO(-) (sodium salt) + CHI3 (yellow iodoform precipitate). Acidification gives CH3-CH=CH-CH2-COOH (pent-3-enoic acid). …
Method: Recognising the Haloform (Iodoform) Reaction on a Methyl Ketone
Core Concept
Any compound bearing a CH3-CO- (methyl ketone) group reacts with a halogen in base (I2/NaOH) to iodinate all three alpha-hydrogens of that methyl group; hydroxide then cleaves the resulting C-CI3 bond to release a trihalomethane (iodoform, CHI3) and leave a carboxylate with one fewer carbon -- the standard one-step route that shortens a methyl ketone by exactly its terminal CH3CO- carbon while leaving other unsaturation untouched.
Steps
- Identify the CH3-CO- group in the substrate: CH3-CH=CH-CH2-CO-CH3 has its methyl ketone at the right-hand end.
- Recognise I2/NaOH as the classic haloform reagent combination for methyl ketones (and methyl carbinols, via prior oxidation).
- Mechanistically: base deprotonates one of the three methyl alpha-hydrogens; the resulting enolate attacks I2, and this repeats three times to give -CO-CI3.
- Hydroxide then adds to the carbonyl and expels the very stable CI3(-) (soon protonated to CHI3, the characteristic yellow iodoform precipitate), leaving the rest of the molecule as a carboxylate. …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The compound among the following which gives both iodoform and Fehling's test is(a) ethanol(b) propanone(c) butan-2-ol(d) ethanal
›Reveal solutionSolution
Checking each compound against both tests shows only ethanal satisfies the structural requirement for the iodoform test and is itself an aldehyde, so only it is positive to both.
- Ethanol, CH3CH2OH: has the CH3CH(OH)− pattern, so I2/NaOH first oxidises it to acetaldehyde and then iodoform — iodoform positive. But ethanol itself is an alcohol, not an aldehyde, so it does not reduce Fehling's solution — Fehling negative.
- Propanone (acetone), CH3COCH3: has the CH3CO− group — iodoform positive. But it is a ketone; aliphatic ketones (lacking the aldehydic C–H) do not reduce Fehling's solution — Fehling negative.
- Butan-2-ol, CH3CH(OH)CH2CH3: has the CH3CH(OH)− pattern — iodoform positive. It is an alcohol, not an aldehyde — Fehling negative. …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.An organic compound is found to form oxime, reduces Tollen's reagent and forms iodoform with I₂/aq.KOH. Identify the compound.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Forms oxime ⇒ carbonyl compound; reduces Tollens' reagent ⇒ it is an aldehyde; gives iodoform ⇒ has a CH₃CO– / CH₃CH(OH)– group. The compound satisfying all three is CH₃CHO (ethanal).
Let us use each clue:
- Forms an oxime with hydroxylamine (NH2OH): only compounds with a carbonyl group (>C=O), i.e. aldehydes and ketones, form oximes (>C=N−OH).
- Reduces Tollens' reagent (ammoniacal AgNO3) to give a silver mirror: only aldehydes (−CHO) are oxidised easily and reduce Tollens' reagent; ketones do not. So the compound is an aldehyde. …
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Iodoform test is not given by –(i) Pentan-2-one(ii) Pentan-3-one(iii) Ethanol(iv) Ethanal
›Reveal solutionSolution
The iodoform test is positive only for compounds containing a CH₃-CO- (methyl ketone) or CH₃-CH(OH)- group; pentan-3-one has neither.
The iodoform test (with I₂/NaOH) is given by:
- Methyl ketones, i.e. compounds with a CH₃-CO- group, and
- Compounds with a CH₃-CH(OH)- group (secondary alcohols with a methyl group on the carbinol carbon), including ethanol.
- Acetaldehyde (ethanal, CH₃CHO) also gives a positive test since it has a CH₃-CO- group.
Checking each option:
- Pentan-2-one: CH₃-CO-CH₂-CH₂-CH₃ → has CH₃-CO- → positive. …
- CBSE 2023Set F1 markMCQQ.Which of the following will not give iodoform test?(a) Isopropyl alcohol(b) Ethanol(c) Ethanal(d) Benzyl alcohol
›Reveal solutionSolution
Iodoform test is positive only for CH3CO- or CH3CH(OH)- containing compounds; benzyl alcohol has neither.
The iodoform (haloform) test is given by:
- methyl ketones and acetaldehyde (a CH3-CO- group), and
- alcohols that can be oxidised by I2/NaOH to a CH3-CO- compound, i.e. those with a CH3-CH(OH)- group.
Checking each option:
- Isopropyl alcohol, CH3-CH(OH)-CH3, has CH3-CH(OH)- → gives iodoform. …
- CBSE 2022Set E1 markMCQQ.Which of the following gives iodoform test ?(a) CH3OH(b) (CH3)2CHOH(c) (CH3)3COH(d) CH3-CH2-CH2-OH
›Reveal solutionSolution
Only alcohols with the CH3-CH(OH)- unit (or a CH3-CO- group) give the iodoform test — that is propan-2-ol, (CH3)2CHOH.
The iodoform (haloform) test is positive for compounds containing either a CH3-CO- (methyl ketone) group or a CH3-CH(OH)- group, because I2/NaOH first oxidises the CH3-CH(OH)- to CH3-CO- and then cleaves it to give yellow CHI3 (iodoform).
Checking the options:
- CH3OH (methanol): no CH3-CH(OH)- unit → negative. (Ethanol would be positive, but methanol is not.) …
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Iodoform test is not given by:(a) Ethanol(b) Ethanal(c) 3-Pentanone(d) 2-Pentanone
›Reveal solutionSolution
Iodoform test is positive for compounds containing a CH3CO− (methyl ketone) group or a CH3CH(OH)− group that can be oxidised to it. 3-Pentanone lacks this group. Option (C).
The iodoform (CHI3) test is given by:
- Ethanol (CH3CH2OH) — has CH3CH(OH)− ✓
- Ethanal (CH3CHO) — has CH3CO− ✓
- 2-Pentanone (CH3COCH2CH2CH3) — has CH3CO− ✓
But:
…
- CBSE 2019Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Which does not form iodoform on heating with I2 and base?(a) Acetone(b) Ethanol(c) Methanol(d) Acetaldehyde
›Reveal solutionSolution
Iodoform is formed only by CH3CO- or CH3CH(OH)- compounds; methanol (CH3OH) has neither, so option (c).
The iodoform reaction (with I2 and a base, i.e. NaOI) is positive for:
- Methyl ketones (containing the CH3-CO- group), e.g. acetone CH3COCH3.
- Compounds oxidisable to such a group, i.e. those with a CH3-CH(OH)- group, e.g. ethanol CH3CH2OH, and acetaldehyde CH3CHO.
Checking the options:
- Acetone (CH3COCH3): has CH3CO- -> gives iodoform. …
- CBSE 2018Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.An organic compound gives iodoform test and also gives positive test with Tollens reagent. The compound is -(a) CH3-CHO(b) CH3-C(=O)-CH3 (acetone)(c) CH3-CH2OH(d) (CH3)2CH-OH (isopropyl alcohol)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Aldehyde (Tollens⁺) + CH₃CO group (iodoform⁺) → acetaldehyde.
- Tollens' reagent is reduced only by aldehydes → the compound must be an aldehyde. This rules out acetone (ketone), ethanol and isopropanol (alcohols). …
- CBSE 2018Set 56/11 markQ.An aromatic organic compound 'A' with molecular formula C8H8O gives positive DNP and iodoform tests. It neither reduces Tollens' reagent nor does it decolourise bromine water. Write the structure of 'A'.
›Reveal solutionSolution
C8H8O with positive DNP + iodoform but negative Tollens' and no alkene is acetophenone, C6H5COCH3.
Concept. This is a functional-group identification of the kind CBSE Class-12 aldehydes-ketones-and-carboxylic-acids questions ask.
Why (clue by clue).
- Positive 2,4-DNP (Brady's) test ⇒ a carbonyl (>C=O) is present.
- Positive iodoform test ⇒ a CH3-C(=O)- (methyl ketone) group is present.
- Does not reduce Tollens' reagent ⇒ it is a ketone, not an aldehyde. …
- CBSE 2017Set ANNUAL1 markQ.What is haloform reaction ?
›Reveal solutionSolution
The haloform reaction converts a methyl ketone (or a compound oxidisable to one) into a haloform and a carboxylate salt, using X2/NaOH.
Any compound containing a CH3CO− group (or a CH3CH(OH)− group that can be oxidised to it in situ, e.g. ethanol) reacts with a halogen (Cl2, Br2 or I2) in the presence of NaOH to give a haloform (CHCl3, CHBr3 or CHI3) and the sodium salt of the corresponding carboxylic acid, via successive halogenation of the methyl group followed by cleavage: …
- CBSE 2017Set ANNUAL1 markQ.How is acetophenone converted to benzoic acid ?
›Reveal solutionSolution
The methyl ketone group of acetophenone is cleaved by the haloform reaction, converting it to benzoic acid.
Acetophenone (C6H5COCH3) contains a CH3CO− group attached to the ring, so it undergoes the haloform reaction with I2 (or NaOI) in the presence of NaOH: the methyl group is progressively iodinated and then cleaved off as iodoform, leaving the carboxylate:
C6H5COCH3+3I2+4NaOH→C6H5COONa+CHI3↓+3NaI+3H2O …
- CBSE 2017Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.A carbonyl compound with molecular weight 86, does not reduce Fehling's solution but forms crystalline bisulphite derivative and gives iodoform test. The possible compounds are(a) 2- pentanone and 3-pentanone(b) 2-pentanone and 3-methyl-2-butanone(c) 2-pentanone and pentanal(d) 3-pentanone and 3-methyl-2-butanone.
›Reveal solutionSolution
A carbonyl compound that fails Fehling's test (a ketone) but forms a bisulphite adduct and passes the iodoform test must be a methyl ketone; both 2-pentanone and 3-methyl-2-butanone fit at MW 86.
Not reducing Fehling's solution rules out an aldehyde — the compound must be a ketone. Molecular weight 86 corresponds to C5H10O ketones. A positive iodoform test requires a CH3−CO− (methyl ketone) group:
- 2-pentanone, CH3COCH2CH2CH3 — has a CH3CO− group → gives iodoform. ✓
- 3-pentanone, CH3CH2COCH2CH3 — no CH3CO− group → does NOT give iodoform. ✗ …
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