What type of reaction occurs when haloalkanes react with alcoholic KOH?

What type of reaction occurs when haloalkanes react with alcoholic KOH?

Correct Answer: Nucleophilic substitution

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 alcoholic KOH is. It is potassium hydroxide dissolved in alcohol, which acts as a strong base.
Step 3: Recognize that in this reaction, the KOH acts as a nucleophile. A nucleophile is a species that donates an electron pair to form a chemical bond.
Step 4: Identify the type of reaction. When haloalkanes react with alcoholic KOH, the halogen atom is replaced by a hydroxyl group (-OH) from the KOH.
Step 5: Conclude that this process is called nucleophilic substitution because the nucleophile (KOH) substitutes the halogen in the haloalkane.
Step 6: The final product of this reaction is an alcohol, which is a compound that contains one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups.

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