Assignment:
Questions 1: a) Why do alkanes react only by homolysis?
b) What happens with nucleophilic substitution of bromoethane with sodium hydroxide?
Explain the following terms: Addition reaction, homolysis and heterolysis, and nucleophile and electrophile.
Question 2: What are the structural formulae of compounds A-H? Explain your reasoning. There are four compounds, A-D, all with molecular formula C4H8. Compound A is a cis-isomer and compound B is a trans-isomer. Both react with concentrated sulphuric acid, followed by water to yield a compound E of formula C4H10O. Compound C reacts with sulphuric acid followed by water, to yield mostly compound E, but also some compound F, also C4H10O. Compound D also reacts reacts with sulphuric acid and water to produce a major product G and a minor product H, both of formula C4H10O also.
Question 3: Explain the difference in structure between a primary, secondary and tertiary alcohol (Alkanol). Outline, with equations, the product(s) of oxidation of each of the above three types of alcohol.
Question 4: You are provided with a mixture which you suspect may consist of hexane, hexylamine and propanol.
a) How would you attempt to separate the mixture?
b) Suggest a chemical or physical test, which would help to confirm your suspicion as to the chemical nature of each of the three components?
Provide complete and step by step solution for the question and show calculations and use formulas.