Question

What are alkyl halides? Discuss any two methods of preparation of alkyl halides.

Answer 1

Haloalkanes and Haloarenes are the two different types of substituted hydrocarbons (compounds composed of hydrogen and carbon). In these hydrocarbons, one or more of the hydrogen atom(s) is replaced by a halogen (group 17 elements).

The difference between haloalkanes and haloarenes is that haloalkanes are derived from alkanes (open chain hydrocarbons) while haloarenes are derived from aromatic hydrocarbons (hydrocarbons with sigma bonds and delocalized pi electrons between carbon atoms forming rings).

Haloalkanes and Haloarenes can be prepared from other organic compounds by numerous methods. Some of the methods of preparation of alkyl halides and aryl halides are underlined below: