An unknown compound X is one of the four compounds listed in the table below. A mixture of X with o-toluic acid melts at 95 °C, a mixture of X with benzoic acid melts at 115 °C, a mixture of X with phenyl succinate melts at 117 °C, and a mixture of X with m-aminophenol melts at 121 °C. Give the identity of X and explain your reasoning.
Compound m.p., Celcius
o-toluic acid 102
benzoic acid 121
phenyl succinate 121
m-aminophenol 122
If the compound X has lower melting point than the compound in which it is added, then the X will melt first and when the desired temperature is reached, the other compound will start melting.
The compound added must be O-toluic acid since the other compounds will lead to higher melting point on additon and irrespective of the other compound in the reaction, the melting point is decreased from the previous state
Hence the correct answer for X is O-toluic acid
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