What type of reaction occurs when 1-chloropropane reacts with potassium cyanide?
Practice Questions
Q1
What type of reaction occurs when 1-chloropropane reacts with potassium cyanide? (2019)
Nucleophilic substitution
Electrophilic substitution
Addition reaction
Elimination reaction
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What type of reaction occurs when 1-chloropropane reacts with potassium cyanide? (2019)
Step 1: Identify the reactants. We have 1-chloropropane (a compound with a chlorine atom) and potassium cyanide (a compound with a cyanide ion).
Step 2: Understand what a nucleophilic substitution reaction is. In this type of reaction, a nucleophile (like the cyanide ion) attacks a carbon atom that is bonded to a leaving group (like the chlorine atom).
Step 3: Recognize that in 1-chloropropane, the chlorine atom is the leaving group. When the cyanide ion attacks, it replaces the chlorine atom.
Step 4: Write the product of the reaction. When the cyanide ion replaces the chlorine, we get propanenitrile (a compound with a cyanide group).
Step 5: Conclude that the reaction is a nucleophilic substitution reaction, resulting in the formation of propanenitrile.
