Haloalkanes

Question 1

What is a haloalkane?

Answer 1

A haloalkane is an alkane with at least one halogen atom in place of a hydrogen atom.

Question 2

State one factor that influences the boiling points of haloalkanes.

Answer 2

The boiling points of the haloalkanes depend on the strength of their intermolecular bonds.

Question 3

Why are most carbon-halogen bonds polar?

Answer 3

Halogens are much more electronegative than carbon. This results in carbon-halogen bonds being polar.

Question 4

Give two examples of nucleophiles that can react with haloalkanes to form alcohols.

Answer 4

• Hydroxide ions (OH-)

- Water (H2O)

Question 5

What type of organic compound would you produce if you reacted ammonia with a haloalkane in ethanol?

Answer 5

Amines

Question 6

2-bromopropane reacts with water in the following reaction:
CH₃CHBrCH₃ + H₂O → CH₃CH(OH)CH₃ + HBr

Name the type of reaction.
[1 mark]

Answer 6

Nucleophilic substitution

Question 7

2-bromopropane reacts with water in the following reaction:
CH₃CHBrCH₃ + H₂O → CH₃CH(OH)CH₃ + HBr

Give the systematic name of the organic product.
[1 mark]

Answer 7

Propan-2-ol

Question 8

2-bromopropane reacts with water in the following reaction:
CH₃CHBrCH₃ + H₂O → CH₃CH(OH)CH₃ + HBr

Under the same conditions, 2-iodopropane was used in place of 2-bromopropane in the reaction above. What difference would you expect in the rate of the reaction?
Explain your answer.
[2 marks]

Answer 8

• The reaction would be faster with 2-iodopropane.

- This is because the C-I bond is weaker than the C-Br bond.