Haloalkanes and Haloarenes
Madhya Pradesh Board · Class 12 · Chemistry
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1. Classification and Nomenclature
- Haloalkanes contain halogen atom(s) attached to sp3 hybridised carbon of an alkyl group.
- Haloarenes contain halogen atom(s) directly bonded to sp2 hybridised carbon of an aromatic ring.
- Compounds may be monohalogen, dihalogen, or polyhalogen depending on the number of halogen atoms.
2. Preparation of Haloalkanes and Haloarenes
- Haloalkanes are prepared from alcohols by replacing the -OH group with halogen using hydrogen halides, phosphorus halides, or thionyl chloride.
- Thionyl chloride is preferred because SO2 and HCl are gases and leave the reaction mixture, giving a pure alkyl halide.
- Primary and secondary alcohols need ZnCl2 with HCl; tertiary alcohols react readily with concentrated HCl at room temperature.
3. Physical Properties
- Pure alkyl halides are colourless, but bromides and iodides may develop colour on exposure to light.
- Many volatile halogen compounds have a sweet smell.
- Boiling points of alkyl halides are higher than those of corresponding hydrocarbons because of stronger intermolecular forces and greater molecular mass.
4. Nucleophilic Substitution in Haloalkanes
- Nucleophilic substitution occurs when a nucleophile replaces the leaving halogen atom in a haloalkane.
- General form: R-X + Nu- → R-Nu + X-.
- Common nucleophiles include OH-, OR-, I-, NH3, CN-, NO2-, and others.
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