BRAINCAKEReaction with Cyanide Ions
Halogenoalkanes react with potassium cyanide dissolved in aqueous ethanol to form nitriles. The mixture is heated under reflux.
The cyanide ion CN- is the nucleophile. It attacks the δ+ carbon using the lone pair on its carbon atom, and the halide ion leaves.
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More in Halogenoalkanes
- Reactivity of the Carbon-Halogen Bond
- Nucleophiles
- Nucleophilic Substitution
- Reaction with Aqueous Sodium Hydroxide
- Reaction with Ammonia
- Uses of Nucleophilic Substitution
- Elimination Reaction
- Mechanism of Elimination
All 16 lessons in Halogenoalkanes · All AQA AS-level Chemistry topics