2-Bromobutane Lab Report

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Table 1 provides the results from this experiment by showing which halides did react with the 1% ethanolic silver nitrate solution and which ones did not react. Through the evaluation of the precipitate, 2-chloro-2-methylpropane reacted instantly with the silver nitrate solution. This reaction occurred instantaneously due to the fact that SN1 reactions favor steric hindrance and the leaving group, chlorine, was a tertiary substrate. On the other hand, the two substrates that had secondary leaving groups were 2-chlorobutane and 2-bromobutane. When 2-bromobutane was mixed with the 1% ethanolic silver nitrate solution, the precipitate that was formed, progressively became cloudier after heating and cooling in a water bath. Although 2-chlorobutane was expected to react, the halide did not show any precipitate before or after heating and cooling. This alkyl halide did not react due to the fact that the leaving group is chlorine, which does not have a strong attraction to the silver nitrate solution. The …show more content…

The reason why using silver nitrate is discouraged is because silver has a strong attraction to bromine, resulting in a harshly formed complex. According to Le Chatelier’s Principle, this complex shifts the chemical equilibrium due to the formation of a salt precipitate. In order to improve this experiment, a different nucleophile, such as copper sulfate, could have been used in order to prevent the silver and bromine complex from forming. Instead of silver, lead is also a good alternative to act as a catalyst. Another improvement for this experiment, is to leave the solutions in reaction conditions for a longer period of time to form a precipitate. Another procedure that could have been used to improve this experiment is to use a different leaving group, rather than bromine or chlorine. Tosylate is an excellent alternative leaving

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