Three components of the sex pheromone of the female sand bee (Ophrys sphegodes) are saturated hydrocarbons containing 23, 25, and 27 carbon atoms. How many H atoms does each of these alkanes contain? Interestingly, the early spider orchid emits a similar hydrocarbon mixture to attract male sand bees to pollinate its fl owers.
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Textbook Solutions for Organic Chemistry
Question
Hydrocarbons like benzene are metabolized in the body to arene oxides, which rearrange to form phenols. This is an example of a general process in the body, in which an unwanted compound (benzene) is converted to a more water-soluble derivative called a metabolite, so that it can be excreted more readily from the body. O OH benzene arene oxide phenol a. Classify each of these reactions as oxidation, reduction, or neither. b. Explain why phenol is more water soluble than benzene. This means that phenol dissolves in urine, which is largely water, to a greater extent than benzene.
Solution
The first step in solving 4 problem number 71 trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: Hydrocarbons like benzene are metabolized in the body to arene oxides, which rearrange to form phenols. This is an example of a general process in the body, in which an unwanted compound (benzene) is converted to a more water-soluble derivative called a metabolite, so that it can be excreted more readily from the body. O OH benzene arene oxide phenol a. Classify each of these reactions as oxidation, reduction, or neither. b. Explain why phenol is more water soluble than benzene. This means that phenol dissolves in urine, which is largely water, to a greater extent than benzene.
From the textbook chapter Alkanes you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.
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