Halogenoalkanes
Read our general notes on Risk Assessment
(1) What two substances may be prepared from 2-chloro-2-methylpentane and what reagents are used?
(2) What are the main reasons for washing 2-methylpropan-2-ol in HCl solution with (a) water and (b) sodium hydrogencarbonate?
020608
Corrie writes .....
1. 2-Chloro-2-methylpentane will react with aqueous alkali, undergoing a substitution reaction in which the -Cl is replaced by -OH. However, if it is heated with strong alkali (usually KOH) dissolved in ethanol, HCl is eliminated, forming an alkene, C6H12. Three possible isomeric alkene products are possible here, depending on which H is lost together with Cl.
2. 2-Methylpropan-2-ol is reasonably soluble in water, so I'm a little puzzled by your question. I'm more familiar with the exeperiment in which 2-methylpropan-2-ol is treated with concentrated HCl and 2-chloro-2-methylpropane is formed. This is insoluble in water and forms as a separate layer, which is removed and washed with water to remove any HCl present. Finally it would be washed with sodium hydrogencarbonate solution to remove last tracesof HCl.
Instead, perhaps you meant 2-methylpentan-2-ol, which would be formed in 1? This would not be very soluble in water and could be purified by washing as above.
Risk assessment
Before attempting any practical work based on the advice and suggestions on this website, you must do the following. Identify any hazards, assess the risks from these hazards, and then decide appropriate control measures to reduce the risks. You must have these approved by those in authority in your school or college laboratory. Do not rely on what is said on this website.
For further guidance see our tutorial on Risk Assessment.
Rate this page or react
Share your views on this page, 1 ratings so far
, rated at 
updated: 03 June 2008
