Hydration of propene with dilute sulfuric acid gives which product and which rule governs regiochemistry?

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Multiple Choice

Hydration of propene with dilute sulfuric acid gives which product and which rule governs regiochemistry?

In acid-catalyzed hydration of alkenes, the alkene is protonated to form the most stable carbocation, then water attacks that carbocation before losing a proton to give the alcohol. For propene, protonation creates a secondary carbocation on the middle carbon. Water attacks this more substituted carbon, and after deprotonation you get 2-propanol. This follows Markovnikov's rule: the OH group ends up on the more substituted carbon. The use of dilute sulfuric acid provides the proton source and the aqueous medium, but the outcome is determined by carbocation stability. The alternative 1-propanol would require a less stable primary carbocation, which is not favored under these conditions.

In acid-catalyzed hydration of alkenes, the alkene is protonated to form the most stable carbocation, then water attacks that carbocation before losing a proton to give the alcohol. For propene, protonation creates a secondary carbocation on the middle carbon. Water attacks this more substituted carbon, and after deprotonation you get 2-propanol. This follows Markovnikov's rule: the OH group ends up on the more substituted carbon. The use of dilute sulfuric acid provides the proton source and the aqueous medium, but the outcome is determined by carbocation stability. The alternative 1-propanol would require a less stable primary carbocation, which is not favored under these conditions.

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