Question

Write the chemical reactions for the following:
i. Chlorobenzene is heated with fuming H\(_2\)SO\(_4\)
ii. Ethyl bromide is heated with silver acetate

Hint:

Aromatic compounds undergo electrophilic substitution with strong reagents; alkyl halides react with silver salts to form esters.

Answer 1

i. Chlorobenzene with fuming H\(_2\)SO\(_4\):
\[ \chemfig{C_6H_5-Cl} + \chemfig{H_2SO_4} \xrightarrow{\text{heat}} \chemfig{C_6H_5-SO_3H} + \chemfig{HCl} \] Fuming H\(_2\)SO\(_4\) (containing SO\(_3\)) causes sulfonation, forming benzenesulfonic acid.
ii. Ethyl bromide with silver acetate:
\[ \chemfig{CH_3-CH_2-Br} + \chemfig{CH_3COOAg} \xrightarrow{\text{heat}} \chemfig{CH_3-CH_2-OCOCH_3} + \chemfig{AgBr} \] This is a nucleophilic substitution reaction, forming ethyl acetate and silver bromide precipitate.