What type of reaction occurs when 1-bromopropane reacts with potassium cyanide?
Practice Questions
Q1
What type of reaction occurs when 1-bromopropane reacts with potassium cyanide?
Elimination
Substitution
Addition
Redox
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What type of reaction occurs when 1-bromopropane reacts with potassium cyanide?
Step 1: Identify the reactants. We have 1-bromopropane (which has a bromine atom attached to a three-carbon chain) and potassium cyanide (which provides the cyanide ion).
Step 2: Understand what a nucleophilic substitution reaction is. In this type of reaction, a nucleophile (in this case, the cyanide ion) attacks a carbon atom that is bonded to a leaving group (the bromine atom).
Step 3: The cyanide ion (CN-) attacks the carbon atom that is attached to the bromine in 1-bromopropane.
Step 4: The bromine atom leaves, making it a good leaving group, and the cyanide ion takes its place.
Step 5: The result is a new compound called propionitrile, where the bromine has been replaced by the cyanide group.
