Reaction of bromoethane with alcoholic ammonia under pressure gives

Correct answer: B. ethylamine

  • A. ethanol
  • B. ethylamine
  • C. ethanenitrile
  • D. ethane

Explanation

Ammonia has a lone pair on nitrogen and acts as a nucleophile, displacing bromide to give ethylamine, though the product is itself nucleophilic so further substitution to secondary and tertiary amines readily follows. Using a large excess of ammonia limits this. Ethanenitrile would be formed with potassium cyanide instead.

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About Nucleophilic Substitution

Nucleophilic substitution replaces a leaving group in an alkyl halide when an electron-rich nucleophile attacks the carbon atom. The topic compares SN1 and SN2 mechanisms, including reaction conditions, substrate structure, solvent effects, nucleophile strength, carbocation formation and stereochemical changes, and distinguishes substitution from elimination.

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