Synthesis

Question 1

Why are alkanes not particularly reactive?

Answer 1

Due to the non polar nature of their bonds

Question 2

What can alkanes react with, what do they form and what type of reaction is it?

Answer 2

Halogens, to form haloalkanes and is a substitution reaction.
Occurs in presence of sunlight or UV light

Question 3

Homolytic fission

Answer 3

Occurs when bond is non polar or only slightly polar, after bond is broken one electron goes to one atom and the other goes to the other - as such free radicals are formed.

Question 4

Heterolytic fission

Answer 4

Occurs when bond is polar, as such when bond broken both electroms go to the more electronegative atom so positive and negative ions are formed.

Question 5

In reactions involving heterolytic fission what are attacking groups classified as?

Answer 5

Nucleophiles or electrophiles

Question 6

Electrophiles

Answer 6

chemical species that are electron deficient and therefore are ‘electron loving’ species. Electrophiles are molecules or positively charged ions which are capable of accepting an electron pair. They will seek out electron rich sites in organic molecules; examples include NO2+ and SO3H+.

Question 7

Nucleophiles

Answer 7

chemical species that are electron rich and are ‘electron donating’ species. Nucleophiles are molecules or negatively charged ions which have at least one lone pair of electrons that they can donate and form dative bonds. They will seek out electron-deficient sites in organic molecules; examples include H2O, NH3 and the halide ions.

Question 8

Curly arrow notation

Answer 8

Arrow starts where electron(s) orig natales and ends where they end up.
Double headed for electron pair.
Single headed for solo electron.

Question 9

Naming halo
alkanes

Answer 9

Start with halogens, state carbon number - halogen shortened to chloro for example (suffix removed and replaced with o)
If no other indicators present number carbons from carbon with most halogens present.
Name halogens in alphabetical order. (Similar to branch)

Question 10

Structural types of monohaloalkanes

Answer 10

Primary secondary and tertiary

Question 11

How to determine structural type of monohaloalkane

Answer 11

Same as alcohol
Alkane bonded to carbon bonded to one other carbon = primary
Alkane bonded to carbon bonded to two other carbons = secondary
Alkane bonded to carbon bonded to three other carbons = tertiary.

Question 12

Why are haloalkanes susceptible to nucleophillic attack?

Answer 12

Due to the polar nature of the bind between the carbon and halogen.