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9.5 Reactions of Alkyl Halides

9.5 Reactions of Alkyl Halides

Consider the molecule, bromomethane. The halide of bromomethane is more electronegative than the carbon atom to which it is attached. This makes the carbon atom partially positive, so a negatively charged nucleophile will attack it. This is the basis of the reactivity of alkyl halides.

Reactions of Alkyl Halides

There are four reactions for alkyl halides that we will be learning about for the remainder of this chapter. They come in two main types, substitutions and eliminations.

9.5.1 Substitutions

Substitutions are when one group replaces another, much like when a substitute teacher replaces a regular teacher who is absent from school.

Generic substitution reaction
Generic substitution reaction

9.5.2 Eliminations

When something is eliminated, that means something is removed or expelled. When we eliminate waste from our bodies, we remove or expel the waste. In organic chemistry, eliminations are two groups being removed from a compound (H and X in this case) forming a π bond.

Generic elimination reaction
Generic elimination reaction

7. Label each of the following reactions as either a substitution or an elimination.

a)
Problem 7a, reactions of alkyl halides
b)
Problem 7b, reactions of alkyl halides
c)
Problem 7c, reactions of alkyl halides
d)
Problem 7d, reactions of alkyl halides
e)
Problem 7e, reactions of alkyl halides

7.

a)
Problem 7a, reactions of alkyl halides, answer
b)
Problem 7b, reactions of alkyl halides, answer
c)
Problem 7c, reactions of alkyl halides, answer
d)
Problem 7d, reactions of alkyl halides, answer
e)
Problem 7e, reactions of alkyl halides, answer