When an unsymmetrical alkene undergoes electrophilic addition you often get a major and minor product. What would the major product be when propene reacts with hydrochloric acid? Why is this?

The major product would be 2-chloropropane whilst the minor product would be 1-chloropropane. This is because the more stable secondary carbonation is formed as an intermediate. This is easy to show with a mechanism. The secondary carbocation is stabilised by the two neighbouring carbons pushing electron density towards it. This is known as the inductive effect .

JB
Answered by Jacob B. Chemistry tutor

6880 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain the trend in the first ionisation energies of the group 1 elements


Thermodynamics with a focus on entropy


In d block chemistry, Copper and Chromium electron configuration do not follow the electron filling trend , why is this?


Suggest why Phenol is more reactive than Benzene in Electrophillic Substitution


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning