Question

Chemical test to distinguish alkyl halide and aryl halide

Answer 1

To distinguish an alkyl halide and an aryl halide, one can use a chemical test. First, NaOH should be added followed by heating. Then the mixture is cooled, and HNO3 id is added, followed by the addition of AgNO3. Alkyl halide may give a white precipitate whereas aryl halide does not. That is because, aryl halides do not undergo nucleophilic substitution, unlike alkyl halides. The reason for not undergoing nucleophilic substitution is that the electron cloud of the aromatic ring causes a repulsion of the nucleophile.