Which alcohol will most easily react with HCl to form an alkyl halide?
a) 1° alcohol
b) 2° alcohol
c) 3° alcohol
d) all alcohols react equally to form alkyl halides
Explanation
In terms of reactivity, 3° alcohols > 2° alcohols > 1° alcohols in reactions with HCl forming alkyl halides. For 3° alcohols, the reaction proceeds by an SN1 mechanism. For small 1° and 2° alcohols, there is some reactivity by an SN2 mechanism, but the SN1 mechanism with tertiary alcohols is the most reactive.
a) 1° alcohol, incorrect.
b) 2° alcohol, incorrect.
c) 3° alcohol, correct.
d) all alcohols react equally to form alkyl halides, incorrect.
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