Question:
What is the number of hydroxyl groups present in lactic acid?
What is the number of hydroxyl groups present in lactic acid?
Show Hint
Only alcoholic \(-\mathrm{OH}\) groups are counted as hydroxyl groups, not those in \(-\mathrm{COOH}\).
Updated On: Feb 11, 2026
- Zero
- Three
- Two
- One
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Writing the structure of lactic acid.
Lactic acid has the structure \( \mathrm{CH_3-CH(OH)-COOH} \).
Step 2: Identifying hydroxyl groups.
There is one alcoholic hydroxyl group (\(-\mathrm{OH}\)) attached to the middle carbon atom.
Step 3: Clarifying the carboxyl group.
The \(-\mathrm{OH}\) present in the carboxylic acid group is not counted as a hydroxyl group separately.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Therefore, lactic acid contains one hydroxyl group.
Lactic acid has the structure \( \mathrm{CH_3-CH(OH)-COOH} \).
Step 2: Identifying hydroxyl groups.
There is one alcoholic hydroxyl group (\(-\mathrm{OH}\)) attached to the middle carbon atom.
Step 3: Clarifying the carboxyl group.
The \(-\mathrm{OH}\) present in the carboxylic acid group is not counted as a hydroxyl group separately.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Therefore, lactic acid contains one hydroxyl group.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Top MHT CET Chemistry Questions
- The temperature of $32^{\circ}C$ is equivalent to
- The heat of formation of water is $ 260\, kJ $ . How much $ H_2O $ is decomposed by $ 130\, kJ $ of heat ?
- If a metal crystallises in bcc structure with edge length of unit cell $4.29 \times 10^{-8}\, cm$ the radius of metal atom is
- Which of the following oxides can act both as an oxidising agent as well as reducing agent ?
- "The mass and energy both are conserved in an isolated system", is the statement of
View More Questions
Top MHT CET Chemical Kinetics Questions
- For a chemical reaction rate law is, rate $= k[A]^{2}[B]$ If $[A]$ is doubled at constant $[B]$, the rate of reaction
- Which among the following reactions is an example of pseudo first order reaction ?
- The first order integrated rate equation is
- If benzene in solution containing 30% by mass in carbon tetrachloride, calculate the mole fraction of benzene.
- The tendency of a reaction to take place spontaneously is greatest when the reaction is:
View More Questions
Top MHT CET Questions
- During r- DNA technology, which one of the following enzymes is used for cleaving DNA molecule ?
- In non uniform circular motion, the ratio of tangential to radial acceleration is (r = radius of circle, $v =$ speed of the particle, $\alpha =$ angular acceleration)
- The temperature of $32^{\circ}C$ is equivalent to
- The line $5x + y - 1 = 0$ coincides with one of the lines given by $5x^2 + xy - kx - 2y + 2 = 0 $ then the value of k is
- The heat of formation of water is $ 260\, kJ $ . How much $ H_2O $ is decomposed by $ 130\, kJ $ of heat ?
View More Questions