Textbook Question
List the products of each alcohol reaction. d.
22. Organic Chemistry
Alcohol Reactions: Substitution Reactions
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Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
Name the product formed when 2-pentanol is treated with hydrochloric acid.
A
2-pentanoic acid
B
3-chloropentane
C
3-pentanol
D
2-chloropentane
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the structure of 2-pentanol, which is an alcohol with the hydroxyl group (-OH) on the second carbon of a five-carbon chain.
Understand that treating an alcohol with hydrochloric acid (HCl) typically results in a substitution reaction where the hydroxyl group is replaced by a chlorine atom.
Recognize that the reaction involves the formation of a carbocation intermediate. In this case, the hydroxyl group on the second carbon is protonated by HCl, making it a good leaving group.
Once the hydroxyl group leaves, a carbocation is formed at the second carbon. Chloride ions (Cl-) from HCl then attack this carbocation, resulting in the substitution of the hydroxyl group with a chlorine atom.
The final product of this reaction is 2-chloropentane, where the chlorine atom is attached to the second carbon of the pentane chain, replacing the original hydroxyl group.
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