Kerala KEAM 5 June 2024 Solved Paper

Step 1: 1-Phenylethanol has the structure $C_6H_5CH_2OH$, which is a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to an ethyl group ($CH_2CH_3$) bound to a benzene ring. This compound is classified as a secondary alcohol because the carbon bearing the hydroxyl group is attached to two other carbons, not one. Therefore, it is not a primary alcohol.Step 2: The other statements are correct:- Option (B): 1-Phenylethanol is an aromatic alcohol because it has a phenyl group (a benzene ring) attached to the alcohol functional group.- Option (C): Upon oxidation, 1-phenylethanol forms acetophenone, which is a ketone.- Option (D): 1-Phenylethanol is optically active because the carbon bearing the hydroxyl group is chiral.- Option (E): Like most alcohols, 1-phenylethanol reacts with metallic sodium to liberate hydrogen gas (H$_2$).Thus, the incorrect statement is option (A), which states that 1-phenylethanol is a primary alcohol.Quick Tip: In organic chemistry, alcohols are classified based on the number of carbon atoms attached to the carbon bearing the hydroxyl group. A primary alcohol has one carbon attached to the hydroxyl-bearing carbon, a secondary alcohol has two, and a tertiary alcohol has three.