halogenoalkanes Flashcards
what are halogenoalkanes
Halogenoalkanes are a family of compounds in which a halogen atom has replaced one or more hydrogen atoms in an alkane.
what are the 3 types of halogenoalkanes
Primary halogenoalkane - the carbon atom attached to the halogenoalkane atom is only attached to 1 alkyl group
Secondary halogenoalkane - the carbon atom attached to the halogenoalkane atom is attached to 2 alkyl groups
Tertiary halogenoalkane - the carbon atom attached to the halogenoalkane atom is attached to 3 alkyl groups.
how are they reactive
There is a large difference in the electronegativities between the carbon atom and the halogen atom in a halogenoalkane. This results in a polar carbon-hydrogen bond which makes them susceptible to attacks by nucleophiles and halogenoalkanes will undergo nucleophilic substitution reactions. The presence of the polar carbon-halogen bond is the reason why halogenoalkanes are more reactive than alkanes.
How can the rate of the reaction be measured?
When halogenoalkanes react with an aqueous silver nitrate solution, a silver halide precipitate is formed. The faster the precipitate is formed, the quicker the rate of reaction.
From the three halogenoalkanes commonly used (chloroalkanes, bromoalkanes and iodoalkanes, the pale-yellow precipitate silver iodide is produced the quickest and the white precipitate silver chloride is produced the slowest, confirming the reactivity of the halogenoalkanes.
So, the rate of reaction increases as the carbon-halogen bond strength decreases.
what isthe explanation for the reactivity of the halogenoalkanes
Since substitution reactions involve breaking the carbon-halogen bond the bond energies can be used to explain their different reactivities
what is the weakest bond
C-I
what is the strongest bond
C-F due to difference in electroneg
what can be used to test for the halogens
Aqueous silver nitrate
how can aqueous silver nitrate be used to test for the halogens
Reacting halogenoalkanes with aqueous silver nitrate solution will result in the formation of a precipitate
The rate of formation of these precipitates can also be used to determine the reactivity of the halogenoalkanes
what is the difference in reactivity in the halogens and the resulting tests
The formation of the pale yellow silver iodide is the fastest (fastest nucleophilic substitution reaction) whereas the formation of the silver fluoride is the slowest (slowest nucleophilic substitution reaction)
This confirms that fluoroalkanes are the least reactive and iodoalkanes are the most reactive halogenoalkanes
what are the colours of the precipitates for the halogens
chlorides- white, silver chloride
bromides- cream, silver bromide
iodides- pale-yellow, silver iodide
what is the mechanism that is used to produce halogenoalkanes from an alkane and a halogen
free radical substitution
why can the alkanes only undergo substitution reactions
they are saturated as they have no double bonds so undergo substitution reactions where a hydrogen is replaced by another atom
what are free radicals
atoms/a group of atoms with an unpaired electron in outer shell - the only particles that can react with alkanes as they are every reactive- easily lose this pair
what type of fission is used in free radical substitution
homolytic
-each atom takes one of the electrons that is in the pair when the bond is broken
what must be present for fission to occur
UV light to provide energy
what are the 3 steps of FRS
-initiation
-propagation
-termination
what reaction can be used to demonstrate FRS
methane and chlorine
describe the initiation step
the breaking of the covalent bond producing free radicals usually 2
what is the initiation equation
Cl2 = 2Cl*
describe the propagation step
reaction of the radical with methane to produce a molecule and free radical
what are the propagation equations
Cl* + CH4 = *CH3 + HCl
CH3 + Cl2 = CH3Cl + Cl
describe the termination step
free radical combine stopping the chain reaction and so there is no more radicals
what are the termination equations
Cl* + CH3 = CH3Cl
Cl + Cl* = Cl2
*CH3 + *CH3 = CH3CH3
what is the overall equation of FRS
main products is the halogenoalkane and hydrogen-halogen
what is the overall reaction equation of methane and chlorine
Cl2 + CH4 = CH3Cl + HCl
what can happen after the other FRS reactions
the chlorine or halogen atoms can be regenerated
-each time amount of hydrogen decreases and halogen increases
how can u promote further substitution
use excess chlorine and will keep substitution
how can u reduce the chances of further substitution
use excess methane and takes away as many chlorine radicals as possible