What is the mechanism for the hydrolysis of halogenoalkanes?

The hydrolysis of halogenoalkanes is a nucleophilic substitution reaction. In this investigation the nucleophile is water. If NaOH is used to hydrolyse the halogenoalkanes, then any excess NaOH has to be neutralised by HNO3 before adding AgNO3.

What mechanism do halogenoalkanes undergo?

Halogenoalkanes also undergo elimination reactions in the presence of sodium or potassium hydroxide. The 2-bromopropane has reacted to give an alkene – propene. Notice that a hydrogen atom has been removed from one of the end carbon atoms together with the bromine from the centre one.

Can halogenoalkanes undergo hydrolysis?

Haloalkanes can undergo hydrolysis.

How do halogenoalkanes react with aqueous potassium hydroxide?

If a halogenoalkane is heated under reflux with a solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide, the halogen is replaced by -OH and an alcohol is produced.

Which reaction type is typical for halogenoalkanes?

The bromine (or other halogen) in the halogenoalkane is simply replaced by an -OH group – hence a substitution reaction.

Why do halogenoalkanes react with nucleophiles?

Haloalkanes undergo nucleophilic substitution because their electronegativity puts a partial positive charge on the α carbon atom. All the halogens except iodine are more electronegative than carbon. Iodine has the same electronegativity as carbon.

Why do halogenoalkanes undergo substitution reactions?

Haloalkanes undergo nucleophilic substitution because their electronegativity puts a partial positive charge on the α carbon atom. All the halogens except iodine are more electronegative than carbon.

Do secondary halogenoalkanes undergo SN1 or SN2?

Secondary halogenoalkanes (like 2-bromopropane) can use either the SN1 or the SN2 mechanism. The back of the molecule is rather more cluttered than in a primary halogenoalkane, but there is still room for the lone pair on the nucleophile to approach and form a bond.

What affects rate of hydrolysis of Halogenoalkanes?

How does the halogen in the halogenoalkane affect the rate of hydrolysis? Why? Rate of hydrolysis increases down group 7 because the bond enthalpy of the carbon-halogen bond decreases down the group meaning less energy is needed to break this bond.

Why are Halogenoalkanes insoluble in water?

Haloalkanes aren’t very soluble in water because they can’t form hydrogen bonds, and the energy required to break hydrogen bonds in water etc is higher than the energy released when new bonds between the haloalkane and water are formed.

How do halogenoalkanes react with ethanolic potassium hydroxide?

The halogenoalkane is heated under reflux with a concentrated solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide in ethanol. Propene is formed and, because this is a gas, it passes through the condenser and can be collected. Note: If you want to read about the mechanisms for elimination reactions follow this link.

How do primary halogenoalkanes react?

When a nucleophile attacks a primary halogenoalkane, it approaches the + carbon atom from the side away from the halogen atom. Any other approach is prevented by the halogen atom, which is both bulky and slightly negatively charged. The charge repels the incoming nucleophile.

What happens to the halogen atom in hydrolysis of halogenoalkane?

During hydrolysis, the halogen atom is replaced by the hydroxide ion: The hydroxide ion has a lone pair of electrons. These are attracted and donated to the electron-deficient carbon atom in the halogenoalkane. This is known as nucleophilic attack.

What are halogenoalkanes?

Halogenoalkanes are compounds in which a halogen atom has replaced at least one of the hydrogen atoms in an alkane chain. They have the general formula: , where is a halogen atom. Their name is based on the length of the longest alkane chain with any halogen groups and positions indicated.

Why doesn’t sodium hydroxide react with halogenoalkane?

The halogenoalkane is insoluble in water. If you used water alone as the solvent, the halogenoalkane and the sodium hydroxide solution wouldn’t mix and the reaction could only happen where the two layers met. Note: If you want the mechanisms for substitution reactions follow this link.

How do tertiary haloalkanes form halides?

Tertiary haloalkanes – the carbon atom attached to the halogen atom is attached to three other alkyl groups. The rate of halide formation is dependent on the haloalkane group, where primary haloalkanes hydroxyl bonds the slowest and tertiary haloalkanes the fastest, releasing the halide ions into the solution.