In experiment 2(a), we use 2-chloro-2-methylpropane as a halogenoalkane to react with aqueous alkali which is potassium …show more content…
Pale yellow precipitate appears the fastest, following with pale cream precipitate and white precipitate takes the longest time to appear. This shows that 1-iodobutane is most reactive whereas 1-chlorobutane is least reactive. The order of reactivity reflects the strengths of the carbon-halogen bonds. The carbon-iodine bond is the weakest and the carbon-chlorine the strongest of the three bonds. In order for a halide ion to be produced, the carbon-halogen bond has to be broken. The weaker the bond, the easier that is. Carbon atom is slightly positive when it attached to the halogen. It is slightly positive because most of the halogens are more electronegative than carbon, and so pull electrons away from the carbon. Chlorine is most electronegative compare to bromine and iodine, hence it drags most of the electrons away from carbon to form a strongest bonding. The bond between iodine and carbon is the weakest as iodine is least electronegative. So, the bond energy of carbon-chlorine is the highest whereas the bond energy of carbon-iodine is the