What type of reaction occurs when 2-bromobutane is treated with sodium ethoxide?
Practice Questions
Q1
What type of reaction occurs when 2-bromobutane is treated with sodium ethoxide?
Nucleophilic substitution
Elimination
Addition
Redox
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What type of reaction occurs when 2-bromobutane is treated with sodium ethoxide?
Step 1: Identify the reactants. We have 2-bromobutane, which is a molecule with a bromine atom attached to the second carbon of a butane chain, and sodium ethoxide, which is a strong base.
Step 2: Understand what sodium ethoxide does. As a strong base, sodium ethoxide can remove a hydrogen atom from the carbon chain of 2-bromobutane.
Step 3: Recognize the elimination reaction. When sodium ethoxide removes a hydrogen atom, it causes the bromine atom to leave, resulting in the formation of a double bond between two carbon atoms.
Step 4: Conclude the product. The result of this elimination reaction is an alkene, specifically butene, which has a double bond.