2.6 halogenoalkanes Flashcards
the C-Halogenoalkane bond is ____?
polar
δ+ δ-
C - X
why is the C-halogenoalkane bond said to be polar?
- the halogen atom is more electronegative than the carbon it is bonded to
- this results in an electronegativity difference
- this leads to a permanent dipole as the bonding electrons are drawn towards the more electronegative element
the carbon in a C-Halogenoalkane is said to be _____ ______and is susceptible to _____ ______?
electron deficient
nucleophilic attacks
what is a nucleophile?
a species that has a lone pair of electrons that can be donated to an electron-deficient species
(opposite of an electrophile)
(that has an area of high electron density)
nucleophile examples:
- hydroxide ions
- (any species with a lone pair) e.g water
- ammonia
what are the 2 reactions of halogenoalkanes?
- nucleophilic substitution reactions MECHANISM REQUIRED
- elimination reactions
what happens in a nucleophilic substitution reaction?
- nucleophiles (e.g OH-) are attracted to the δ+ carbon
- the lone pair on the nucleophile attacks the δ+ on the C atom in the halogenoalkane
- as the carbon makes a bond with the incoming nucleophile, it simultaneously starts to break its bond with the halogen atom - sometimes referred to as a transition state
- the carbon makes a full bond to the ex-nucleophile. the halogen atom is now a halide ion
what does nucleophilic substitution reactions form?
(from a haloalkane) to an alcohol
what are the conditions for nucleophilic substitution?
- aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
- reflux/warm
why don’t you want to boil halogenoalkanes in an open flame?
they are flammable and it would boil the alcohol made off
what are some key points about nucleophilic substitution?
- label your dipoles between the C and X atom on the haloalkane
- your initial curly arrow needs to come from the LONE PAIR on the nucleophile (also with a full negative charge) and needs to end at the carbon delta plus on the haloalkane
- the breaking of the C-X bond must start with an arrow from the centre of the C-X bond and end up on the X atom
- don’t forget the charge on the new halide ion formed as negative
- the very reason the halogenoalkane has a dipole is why the reaction occurs
- you should include the lone pair of electrons on the oxygen of the hydroxide ion
what happens in the elimination reaction? what does it form?
- an elimination reaction is one where you start with a larger molecule, that ends up being broken down into smaller products
- it involves the loss of a small molecule to produce a double bond
- we say that the smaller product has been eliminated
- when we perform an elimination reaction on a halogenoalkane, we get an alkene, a water molecule and a halide ion
what are the conditions for the elimination reaction?
- reflux
- sodium hydroxide in ethanol (ethanolic sodium hydroxide)
what does the elimination reaction form?
an alkene
bond polarity of C-X bond (increases/decreases) as you go up group 7?
increases
why does bond polarity of C-X increase as you go up group 7?
bc more electronegative so bigger dipole
what does it mean for C-F (in terms of nucleophiles) because bond polarity increases as you go up group 7?
this mean mean that a C-F bond is more likely to be attacked by a nucleophile and break
bond enthalpy (increases/decreases) up group 7?
increases
because bond enthalpy increases up group 7, C - __ bond is more likely to break
C-I
between bond enthalpy and bond polarity, which is the more important factor when looking at rates at which different halogenalkanes react with nucleophiles? why?
bond enthalpy
the primary reason for this is due to the bond length. bond lengths increase down the group and become easier to break
what are the steps of testing for halogenoalkanes?
- add aqueous NaOH (sodium hydroxide)
- acidify with HNO3 (nitric acid)
- add AgNO3 (silver nitrate)
- observe colour of precipitate
why is the first step of testing for haloalkanes to add aqueous NaOH?
- creates an ion (e.g Br-) by nucleophilic substitution
why is the second step of testing for haloalkanes to acidify with HNO3?
- AgOH is insoluble (produces a white ppt)
- it eliminates OH-
what is the precipitate colour of chlorides during the test of halogenoalkanes?
white
AgCl
what is the precipitate colour of bromides during the test of halogenoalkanes?
cream
AgBr