Halogenoalkanes Flashcards
What is the general formula of a halogenoalkane. And state how halogens are represented In organic chemistry.
CnH2n+1 X Where the halogen atom is an X.
How can halogenoalkanes be classified.
Halogenoalkanes can be classified as primary, secondary or tertiary depending on the number of carbon atoms attached to the C-X functional group.
Draw 3-chloro-2-iodo-4-methylpentane and state what this shows about the naming principles for haloalkanes.
SEE PIC
The substituents should me named alphabetically. So if there is both alkyl and halogen substituents then you need to name before the name and alphabetically.
How does polarity of the C-X bond change down the group and why.
The C-X bond becomes less polar down the group as the atoms become less electronegative. Hence the C-Fl bond is the most polar and the C-I bound is the least polar.
Comment on the solubility of Halogenalkanes. In terms of the intermolecular forces present.
The C-X bond is not polar enough for them to be soluble in water. The main intermolecular forces are dipole dipole and van der Waals forces of attraction. ( they are soluble in Hydrocarbons so they can be used in dry cleaning fluids to remove oily stains).
What are the three possible reactions of halogenoalkanes.
Haloalkanes undergo either substitution or elimination reactions. You have the two organic mechanisms(displayed formula) for the same reagent and you also have free radical structural formula reactions.
Give the definition of a nucleophile and give three nucleophiles for nucleophilic substitution reactions with haloalkanes. Also define substitution in this context.
Nucleophile: electron pair donator e.g. :OH-, :NH3, CN-Substitution: swapping a halogen atom for another atom or groups of atoms.
What property do nucleophiles always have and how can they be represented in general terms.
:Nu represents any nucleophile – they always have a lone pair and act as electron pair donators.
Give the two possible factors that could affect the rate of substitution , and an argument for both and then experimentally the factor that has been shown to be the more important factor for reactivity (rate of substitution) of haloalkanes. State which bond has the greatest rate of substitution.
Both the bond polarity and the bond enthalpies are possible factors. The bond polarity decreases down the group as the atoms get less electronegative and the bond enthalpy follows the same trend since the shared electrons in the C-X bond are more strongly attracted to smaller atoms and going down the group the shared C-X electrons get further from the halogen nucleus . A lesser bond enthalpy predicts a faster rate of substitution,
whereas a greater bond polarity would predict a faster rate of substitution since the carbon atom would be more easily attacked by nucleophiles as would be more positive.
Experimentally the bond enthalpy is a greater factor so the rate of these substitution reactions depends on the strength of the C-X bond
The weaker the bond, the easier it is to break and the faster the reaction.
C-Fl is slowest.
C-I is fastest.
What is the factor you need to be considering for rate of substitution. Hence comment on Iodo and fluoro alkanes.
The bond enthalpy is the important factor that decreases down the group as atomic radius of halogens increases and going down the group the shared C-X electrons get further from the halogen nucleus. The iodoalkanes are the fastest to substitute and the fluoroalkanes are the slowest. The strength of the C-F bond is such that fluoroalkanes are very unreactive.
Draw a nucleophilic substitution mechanism for a haloalkane in general terms using :Nu for a compound with 2 carbon atoms.
See picture.
Define a hydrolysis reaction in the context of a halogenoalkane.
What acts as a poor nuceophile in this reaction and hence in what terms should the hydrolysis reaction be considered.
A hydrolysis reaction is defined as the spllitting
up of a molecule, in the case a halogenoalkane molecule, by a reaction with water. Water acts as a poor nucleophile reacting slowly in a substitution reaction with the halogenoalkane. If aqueous is mentioned.
Draw a mechanism for the reaction of bromoethane with water.
See picture.
Write , in structural formula, the reaction that occurs between bromoethane and water.
CH3CH2Br- + H2O INTO CH3CH2OH + Br- + H+.
For 6 marks outline a method in which you could compare the reactivity of different halogenoalkane compounds. Use equations to illustrate your answer.
Define what the first type of reaction that occurs is and what it is similar to.
Aqueous silver nitrate is added to a halogenoalkane. The halide leaving group combines with a silver ion to form a silver halide precipitate.
Aqueous hydrolysis : CH3CH2X + H2O INTO CH3CH2OH + X- + H+
The hydrolysis is just the splitting of a molecule so this is just the same as nucleophilic substitution with OH- ions except in this case you get the extra H+ as water adds on not OH- to make the alcohol , a neutral nucleophile.
Formation of precipitate : Ag+ (aq) + I-(aq) INTO AgI (s)
The precipitate only forms when the halide ion has left the halogenoalkane and so the rate of formation of the precipitate can be used to compare the reactivity of the different halogenoalkanes.The quicker the precipitate is formed, the faster the substitution reaction and the more reactive the halogenoalkane.
The rate of these substitution reactions depends on the strength of the C-X bond . The weaker the bond, the easier it is to break and the faster the reaction.
The iodoalkane forms a precipitate with the silver nitrate first as the C-I bond is weakest and so it hydrolyses the quickest.
AgI (s) - yellow precipitate (Fastest , lowest bond enthalpy )
AgBr(s) – cream precipitate
AgCl(s) – white precipitate ( Slowest , greatest bond enthalpy)
What two things is the boiling point of a halogenoalkane dependent on. And hence what does the boiling point come down to.
The B.P depends on the chain length and the halogen atom that is present. Both will increase the B.P if they increase the Mr and hence B.P will increase down the halogen group and with increased chain length coming down to the strength of the van Der Waals.
