Halogenoalkanes are alkanes in which one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by halogen atoms.Halogenoalkanes with one halogen atom have the general formula CnH2n+1X, where X is F, Cl, Br or I. They are often written as R-X, where R is an alkyl group.For example, chloromethane is CH3Cl and bromoethane is C2H5Br.Halogenoalkanes do not occur much in nature, but they are very useful. They are used as solvents, refrigerants and anaesthetics, and as starting materials for making other organic compounds such as alcohols and amines.
General Formula
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Specification: AQA Chemistry (7404), AS-level, 3.3.3.1 Nucleophilic substitution and 3.3.3.3 Ozone depletion. Topic: Halogenoalkanes.
Key terms in this lesson
- alkyl group
- A group derived from an alkane by removing one hydrogen atom, with general formula CnH2n+1.
More in Halogenoalkanes
- Naming Halogenoalkanes
- Bond Polarity
- Physical Properties
- Reactivity of the Carbon-Halogen Bond
- Nucleophiles
- Nucleophilic Substitution
- Reaction with Aqueous Sodium Hydroxide
- Reaction with Cyanide Ions
All 16 lessons in Halogenoalkanes · All AQA AS-level Chemistry topics