What type of reaction occurs when haloalkanes react with aqueous KOH?
Practice Questions
Q1
What type of reaction occurs when haloalkanes react with aqueous KOH?
Nucleophilic substitution
Elimination
Addition
Redox
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What type of reaction occurs when haloalkanes react with aqueous KOH?
Step 1: Understand what haloalkanes are. They are organic compounds that contain carbon, hydrogen, and halogen atoms (like chlorine, bromine, or iodine).
Step 2: Know what aqueous KOH is. It is potassium hydroxide dissolved in water, which acts as a strong base.
Step 3: Recognize that in a reaction, the KOH will provide hydroxide ions (OH-) in the solution.
Step 4: Identify the type of reaction. When haloalkanes react with hydroxide ions, a nucleophilic substitution reaction occurs.
Step 5: In this reaction, the hydroxide ion (nucleophile) attacks the carbon atom that is bonded to the halogen, replacing the halogen atom.
Step 6: The result of this substitution is the formation of an alcohol, which is an organic compound containing a hydroxyl group (-OH).