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

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Part 2: from the empirical formula, calculate the molecular formula if the molecular weight of the substance is 180 g/mol


In terms of reaction mechanisms, what exactly is the rate-determining step?


Why are some complex ions coloured?


Given the reaction: H2SO4 + NaOH --> ? + H2O. (a). Work out the salt produced (?) and (b). calculate the pH of the remaining solution when 1.2 g of NaOH and 4.41 g of H2SO4 were added in a 500 ml solution. Of the unreacted H2SO4 95% dissociated.