What type of reaction occurs when 1-bromopropane reacts with sodium cyanide? (20
Practice Questions
Q1
What type of reaction occurs when 1-bromopropane reacts with sodium cyanide? (2023)
Elimination
Substitution
Addition
Redox
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What type of reaction occurs when 1-bromopropane reacts with sodium cyanide? (2023)
Step 1: Identify the reactants. We have 1-bromopropane, which is an organic compound with a bromine atom attached to a three-carbon chain, and sodium cyanide, which contains a cyanide ion (CN-).
Step 2: Understand what a nucleophilic substitution reaction is. In this type of reaction, a nucleophile (a species that donates an electron pair) attacks an electrophile (a species that accepts an electron pair) and replaces a leaving group.
Step 3: Recognize that in 1-bromopropane, the bromine atom is the leaving group. The cyanide ion from sodium cyanide acts as the nucleophile.
Step 4: The cyanide ion attacks the carbon atom that is bonded to the bromine atom in 1-bromopropane, forming a new bond.
Step 5: As the cyanide ion forms a bond with the carbon, the bromine atom leaves, resulting in the formation of propanenitrile (a compound with a cyanide group attached to the three-carbon chain).
Step 6: Conclude that the overall reaction is a nucleophilic substitution reaction, where 1-bromopropane is converted into propanenitrile.