Name the product(s) that are produced and classify the reaction?

Question

1-chlorobutane reacts + sodium hydroxide solution →

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

Answer 1

This reaction is a substitution reaction, not elimination.

1-Chlorobutane is an "unhindered" primary (1°) alkyl halide and the hydroxide ion (OH^-) from sodium hydroxide is a strong nucleophile. In this reaction, the hydroxide will substitute for the chloro group forming 1-butanol as the only product. The reaction can be written as:

CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂–Cl + NaOH → CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂–OH + NaCl

For elimination to occur, the alkyl halide must be sterically hindered, that is, it should either be tertiary (3°) or secondary (2°). However, for 2° alkyl halides, substitution reactions can also occur as a competing reaction giving a mixture of products (elimination and substitution).

Answer 2

With 1-chloro-butane being in a sodium hydroxide solution, the hydroxide will aggressively deprotonate 1-chloro-butane in an E2 elimination. This will in turn cause the chlorine group to leave and a double-bond to form. Therefore, the product will be but-1-ene.