Predict the products of the following reaction and classify the type of reaction?

Question

1-chloropropane + sodium hydroxide -->

type of reaction: (addition, substitution, elimination?)

Answer 1

CH₃CH₂CH₂–Cl + NaOH → CH₃CH₂CH₂–OH + NaCl

1-chloropropane is a primary alkyl halide. The hydroxide ion from NaOH is a strong nucleophile. When combined, the hydroxide ion (-OH) bonds to the C₁ carbon of 1-chloropropane and at the same time, the chloro group leaves.

In the end, the hydroxide is substituting for the chloro group on 1-chloropropane, therefore, this is a substitution reaction. This gives 1-propanol as the main product and sodium chloride is formed as a by-product.