What type of reaction do haloalkanes undergo with nucleophiles?

Halogens are electronegative than the adjacent carbon atoms in haloalkanes.Therefore they have a tendency to attract the pair of electrons in a covalent bond, forming a polar bond.The carbon becomes electron deficient and therefore attracts the nucleophile (electron donor).The reaction will be a nucleophilic substitution where the nucleophile replaces the halide - in this case forming an alcohol.
CH3CH2CL + OH- —> CH3CH2OH + Cl-

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

How do you go about answering titration equations?


What is the difference between Sn1 and Sn2 reactions?


Define the term Covalent Bond


Name and explain the three types of isomerism present in organic compounds.