Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Electrophilic Addition
Electrophilic addition is a fundamental reaction mechanism in organic chemistry where an electrophile reacts with a nucleophile, leading to the formation of a more saturated product. In the case of (Z)-2-pentene reacting with water in the presence of H2SO4, the double bond of the alkene acts as a nucleophile, attacking the electrophilic hydrogen from the acid, facilitating the addition of water across the double bond.
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Markovnikov's Rule
Markovnikov's Rule states that in the addition of HX to an alkene, the hydrogen atom will attach to the carbon with the greater number of hydrogen atoms already attached. This principle helps predict the major product of the reaction between (Z)-2-pentene and water, as the hydroxyl group will preferentially bond to the more substituted carbon, leading to the formation of specific alcohol products.
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Mass Spectrometry
Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. It provides information about the molecular weight and structure of compounds. In the context of the reaction products from (Z)-2-pentene, mass spectra can help identify the resulting alcohols by analyzing their fragmentation patterns and molecular ions, allowing for the differentiation between the products formed.
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