A student was given an unknown compound X, which is one of the four compounds li

Question

A student was given an unknown compound X, which is one of the four compounds listed below.

Phenyl succinate   121 degree C

O-toluic acid 102 degree C

m- aminophenol 122 degree C

benzoic acid 122 degree C

A mixture of X with benzoic acid melts at 92 degree C, a mixture of X with phenyl succinate melts at 120 degrees C and a mixture of X with m-amino phenol melts at 102 degree C. The student wrote that the unknown compound is O-toluic acid. Was the student right? Explain your reasoning and provide an alternate explanation if the student is wrong.

Explanation / Answer

Meltingpoint of any compound is fixed.

However adding impurity ( i.e other compound) lowers the Melting point.

When X is added to aminophenol and benzoic acid MP has changed lot. This suggets X is impurity to these. Hence X is other compound. Now MP of Phenyl succinate is nearly same ( 120 compared to 121). Hence it might be possible X is phenyl succinate or X can be ortho toulic acid which caused MP changes in three ( condidering phenyl succinate MP change also) .

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