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Reactivity of Halogenoalkanes

The C-Halogen (C-X) bond is polar. Electronegativity decreases down the group (group 7) so the polarity of the C-X also decreases. The carbon atom is slightly positive or δ+ so it attracts nucleophiles which always use a lone pair of electrons when attacking other species. The nucleophile replaces the halogen in a substitution.

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Specification: OCR Chemistry A (H432), A-level, 4.2.2 Haloalkanes. Topic: Halogenolkanes.

Key terms in this lesson

nucleophile
An atom or group of atoms that can donate a pair of electrons to form a new covalent bond.
substitution
A reaction in which one atom or functional group in a molecule is replaced by another.

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