Halogenoalkanes can be hydrolised to form alcohols via a nucleophilic substitution reaction in water.
R-X + H2O --> R-OH + H+ + X-
In an experiment, a precipitate will form if silver nitrate is added. The reaction is a silver halide.
Chloro - White precipitate
Bromo - Cream precipitate
Iodo - Yellow precipitate
Primary, secondary and tertiary halogenoalkes will have different reactivities. A tertiary halogenoalkane is the most reactive and the primary halogenoalkane is the least reactive.
In order to hydrolise a halogenoalkane, you need to break the carbon halogen bond. Different halogens will take longer to react depending on its size. The size of the halogen increases down group 7 so iodoalkanes have weak bonds so are hydrolised the fastest. Fluoroalkanes have the strongest bonds so are the slowest.
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