Provide the major organic product of the reaction below
The study of organic chemistry revolves around the transformation of organic compounds through various reactions. Understanding the major organic product of a reaction is crucial in predicting the outcome of a chemical process. In this article, we will explore a specific reaction and provide the major organic product that results from it.
The reaction in question involves the nucleophilic substitution of an alkyl halide with an alcohol. The alkyl halide is a compound containing a halogen atom (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine) attached to an alkyl group. The alcohol acts as the nucleophile, which is an electron-rich species that attacks the electrophilic carbon atom of the alkyl halide.
Let’s consider the following reaction as an example:
CH3CH2Br + NaOH → CH3CH2OH + NaBr
In this reaction, the alkyl halide is bromoethane (CH3CH2Br), and the alcohol is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The nucleophilic substitution occurs when the hydroxide ion (OH-) attacks the carbon atom bonded to the bromine atom in bromoethane. This leads to the formation of the major organic product, ethanol (CH3CH2OH), and the byproduct, sodium bromide (NaBr).
The mechanism of this nucleophilic substitution reaction can be explained in the following steps:
1. The hydroxide ion (OH-) acts as a nucleophile and attacks the carbon atom bonded to the bromine atom in bromoethane.
2. The carbon-bromine bond breaks, and the bromine atom leaves as a bromide ion (Br-).
3. The carbon atom now carries a positive charge, making it electron-deficient.
4. The hydroxide ion donates its lone pair of electrons to the carbon atom, forming a new carbon-oxygen bond.
5. The resulting product is ethanol (CH3CH2OH), and the bromide ion combines with the sodium ion to form sodium bromide (NaBr).
In conclusion, the major organic product of the reaction between bromoethane and sodium hydroxide is ethanol. This reaction is a classic example of a nucleophilic substitution reaction, where the alcohol acts as the nucleophile and replaces the halogen atom in the alkyl halide. Understanding the major organic product of such reactions is essential in organic chemistry, as it helps in predicting the outcome of various chemical processes.
