Chemistry 9701 · AS & A Level · Halogen compounds

Halogen compounds — practice question

Halogenoalkanes undergo reaction with hot ethanolic potassium cyanide. The mechanism for this reaction is either $\text{S}_\text{N}1$ or $\text{S}_\text{N}2$. Which statement is true?

  • AAll secondary halogenoalkanes react by the $\text{S}_\text{N}2$ mechanism only.
  • BBoth the halogenoalkane and the cyanide ion are involved in the initial step of the $\text{S}_\text{N}1$ mechanism.
  • CChloroethane reacts with cyanide ions by the $\text{S}_\text{N}1$ mechanism only.
  • DThe $\text{S}_\text{N}2$ mechanism involves a short-lived negatively charged transition state.

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