Select the single best answer. When 2-heptyne was treated with aqueous sulfuric acid containing mercury(II) sulfate, two products, each having the molecular formula C7H14O, were obtained in approximately equal amounts. What are these two compounds

heptan-3-one and heptan-2-one

Explanation:

In this case, we must remember what the products of this reaction are. An alkyne in the presence of HgSO4 and H2SO4 will produce a ketone. But, in the triple bond, we have two carbons, therefore the carbonyl group can be placed on any of the carbons of the triple bond.

In figure 1 we have the general reaction. At C = O it can be added to the carbon on the left (red carbon) or the carbon on the right (blue carbon).

Following this logic, for 2-heptyne the carbonyl group can be added to carbon 2 producing heptan-2-one. Similarly, the carbonyl group can be added to carbon 3 producing heptan-3-one. (See figure 2)