Question

Conversion of ethyl bromide to ethylene is an example is

Answer 1

In ethyl alcohal, the attacking species is the ethoxide anion, which is a much stronger base than the hydroxide anion, so it directly extracts the beta hydrogen from ethyl bromide, followed by elimination of the bromide anion from the adjacent carbon atom to form ethene.

Answer 2

The conversion of ethyl bromide to ethylene is an example of a dehydrohalogenation reaction.

What is a dehydrohalogenation reaction?

• Dehydrohalogenation is a type of elimination reaction in which a hydrogen atom and a halogen are removed together.
• Usually, this reaction is used for making alkenes from alkyl halides.
• This reaction is also called β- elimination reaction as the hydrogen atom eliminated is on the β- Carbon.

Ethyl Bromide to Ethylene

• Ethyl bromide is treated with a strong base like KOH to convert it into ethylene.
• The base attacks the Hydrogen on the β-Carbon, forming H₂O. This leads to bromine leaving the α-Carbon to combine with K⁺.
• The leftover electrons from both carbons make another bond, so ethylene is formed.

               CH₃-CH₂-Br   +   KOH      →   CH₂ = CH₂ + H₂O + KBr

           (ethyl bromide)       (base)         (ethylene)

Therefore, the correct answer is a dehydrohalogenation reaction.