Chemistry 2009 JAMB Past Questions - Question 46: An organic compound reacted with bromine water to give a colourless solution. The compound is probably an

Correct Answer

C

Explanation

Based on the information you provided, the organic compound that reacted with bromine water to give a colourless solution could be one of several possibilities. Here are the most likely candidates:

**1. Alkene:** This is the most common case. Alkenes, molecules with a double carbon-carbon bond, readily react with bromine water, causing the orange colour of the bromine to disappear. This reaction is used as a test for the presence of double bonds in organic compounds.

**2. Alkyne:** Similar to alkenes, alkynes, which have a triple carbon-carbon bond, also react with bromine water, decolorizing the solution.

**3. Phenol:** Phenols, aromatic compounds with an attached hydroxyl group (-OH), react with bromine water in a different way but also lead to a decolorized solution.

**4. Enol:** Enols are isomers of aldehydes and ketones with a double bond adjacent to a carbonyl group. They too can react with bromine water, resulting in a colorless solution.

**5. Aniline:** Aniline, an aromatic amine, can react with bromine water under specific conditions, leading to decolorization.

**6. Some ketones:** Certain ketones, particularly those with alpha-hydrogens (hydrogens on the carbon atoms next to the carbonyl group), can undergo addition reactions with bromine water, causing the colour to disappear.

**7. Glucose:** Under acidic conditions, glucose, a sugar molecule, can react with bromine water and lose its colour.