Question

What happens when ethyl bromide is heated with moist silver oxide?

Answer 1

Product is ethyl alcohol

Answer 2

ANSWER:

Ethyl bromide when heated with moist silver oxide gives diethyl ether.

EXPLANATION:

• When ethyl bromide is heated with moist silver oxide, it gives diethyl ether. Moist silver oxide releases hydroxide ions in low concentration as silver hydroxide is a weak base.

• Due to low concentration of hydroxide ions the probability of elimination reaction reduces. When the concentration is more, it gives ethyl alcohol as the product.

The chemical reactions are given below:

$\begin{array}{l}{2 C_{2} H_{5} B r+A g_{2} O \rightarrow C_{2} H_{5}-O-C_{2} H_{5}+2 A g B r}\\ \\ {A g_{2} O+H_{2} O \rightarrow A g O H}\\ \\ {A g O H+2 C_{2} H_{5} B r \rightarrow C_{2} H_{5} O H+A g B r}\end{array}$