A Levels Chemistry (9701)•9701/12/O/N/20

Explanation
Fehling's test positive for primary alcohols via oxidation to aldehydes Steps:
- Identify all structural isomers of C4H10O: four alcohols (butan-1-ol, butan-2-ol, 2-methylpropan-1-ol, 2-methylpropan-2-ol) and three ethers.
- Ethers do not react with Fehling's solution, as they lack oxidizable groups.
- Among alcohols, only primary ones oxidize to aldehydes, which reduce Cu²⁺ to red Cu₂O precipitate.
- Primary alcohols are butan-1-ol (CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂OH) and 2-methylpropan-1-ol ((CH₃)₂CHCH₂OH); secondary (butan-2-ol) forms ketone, tertiary (2-methylpropan-2-ol) does not oxidize.
Why B is correct:
- Exactly two primary alcohols can be oxidized to aldehydes that give the red precipitate, per the test's mechanism for reducing agents.
Why the others are wrong:
- A: Underestimates; misses the second primary alcohol.
- C: Overestimates; might include the secondary alcohol, but ketones do not reduce Fehling's.
- D: Overestimates; includes all four alcohols, but secondary and tertiary do not give the test.
Final answer: B
Topic: Carbonyl compounds
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