What type of reaction mechanism is involved when an alkyl halide reacts with a nucleophile to form an alcohol?

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Q: What type of reaction mechanism is involved when an alkyl halide reacts with a nucleophile to form an alcohol?

Solution: This reaction is a substitution mechanism (S_N2 or S_N1) where the nucleophile replaces the halide.

Steps: 5

Step 1: Identify the reactants. We have an alkyl halide (a compound with a carbon atom bonded to a halogen) and a nucleophile (a species that donates an electron pair).
Step 2: Understand what a nucleophile does. The nucleophile will attack the carbon atom of the alkyl halide, where the halogen is attached.
Step 3: Determine the type of substitution mechanism. There are two main types: S_N2 (bimolecular) and S_N1 (unimolecular).
Step 4: In S_N2, the nucleophile attacks the carbon and the halogen leaves at the same time, resulting in a direct substitution. In S_N1, the halogen leaves first, forming a carbocation, and then the nucleophile attacks.
Step 5: The result of this reaction is the formation of an alcohol, where the halogen has been replaced by the nucleophile.