Devise the most efficient synthesis for the carboxylic acid below using a starting material and reagents from the tables. Give your route by specifying the number of the starting material followed by the letters of the reagents you would use beginning with the first step. The answer 4fh means treat t-butanol(4) with conc. HCl(f) then treat the product with KOH in alcohol(h).

plasma is the state of matter where the substance is ionized and has no definite shape or volume. the fact of being ionized makes the substance a good electrical conductor.

substituting a hydrogen atom with a halogen in a hydrocarbon:

- the single bond remains single. a is wrong.

- the bond with hydrogen is as strong as with a halogen. c is wrong

- a hydrocarbon is saturated if there is no double bond. we do not know that so d is wrong.

- carbon will always have four valence electrons. e is wrong.

by elimination, the correct answer is b. the boiling point of the new compound increases.