Moderate

When a halide group is replaced by a nucleophile, this type of reaction is a:

Correct answer: A. Nucleophilic substitution

  • A. Nucleophilic substitution
  • B. Electrophilic addition
  • C. Electrophilic substitution
  • D. Nucleophilic addition

Explanation

When a nucleophile replaces a halide group in an alkyl halide, this type of reaction is called a nucleophilic substitution reaction. Alkyl halides are electrophilic. The nucleophile attacks this electrophilic alkyl halide, the halide group leaves and is substituted by the nucleophile.Nucleophilic substitution can take place by two types of mechanisms; SN1 and SN2.In the SN1 type of reaction, first, the alkyl halide splits into a carbocation and halide group.R-X ---> R+ + X-Then, the nucleophile attaches with the carbocation.R+ + Nu- ---> R-NuIn the case of the SN2 type of reaction, the halide group leaves and nucleophile attacks simultaneously. There is a transition state as well.R-X + Nu- ---> [Nu-R+-X] ---> Nu-R + X-

Last updated

About Alkyl Halides

Alkyl halides are named and related to their carbon-halogen structure, polarity and reactivity. The key reactions are nucleophilic substitution by SN1 and SN2 mechanisms and elimination by E1 and E2 mechanisms, including how substrate structure, nucleophile, base, solvent and temperature influence substitution versus elimination.

Practise Alkyl Halides

458 free Alkyl Halides MCQs from Chemistry, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.

Exams that ask Chemistry questions like this

Chemistry is on 12 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.

Related questions