How do you prepare an amine from a halogenoalkane?

Study for the NCEA Level 2 Organic Chemistry Exam. Review key concepts with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with detailed explanations. Get prepared for your exam success!

Multiple Choice

How do you prepare an amine from a halogenoalkane?

Explanation:
To prepare an amine from a halogenoalkane, nucleophilic substitution with ammonia is the correct approach. In this reaction, ammonia acts as a nucleophile, attacking the carbon atom of the halogenoalkane that bears the halogen atom. The halogen, being a good leaving group, departs as the ammonia replaces it, resulting in the formation of an amine. During this process, the nitrogen atom of ammonia, which has a lone pair of electrons, attacks the electrophilic carbon, facilitating the replacement of the halogen. This reaction typically occurs under elevated temperatures and may require a solvent, often an alcohol, to promote the reaction and solubilize the reactants. The other processes mentioned do not lead to the formation of an amine from a halogenoalkane. Heating with water, for instance, tends to cause hydrolysis rather than substitution, and it primarily leads to the formation of alcohols. Using a soap solution or electrolysis with a base does not directly facilitate the nucleophilic substitution necessary for amine formation and is not a recognized method for synthesizing amines from halogenoalkanes.

To prepare an amine from a halogenoalkane, nucleophilic substitution with ammonia is the correct approach. In this reaction, ammonia acts as a nucleophile, attacking the carbon atom of the halogenoalkane that bears the halogen atom. The halogen, being a good leaving group, departs as the ammonia replaces it, resulting in the formation of an amine.

During this process, the nitrogen atom of ammonia, which has a lone pair of electrons, attacks the electrophilic carbon, facilitating the replacement of the halogen. This reaction typically occurs under elevated temperatures and may require a solvent, often an alcohol, to promote the reaction and solubilize the reactants.

The other processes mentioned do not lead to the formation of an amine from a halogenoalkane. Heating with water, for instance, tends to cause hydrolysis rather than substitution, and it primarily leads to the formation of alcohols. Using a soap solution or electrolysis with a base does not directly facilitate the nucleophilic substitution necessary for amine formation and is not a recognized method for synthesizing amines from halogenoalkanes.

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