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Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 21 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 21
Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons. Which type of reaction are alkanes most likely to undergo? A) electrophilic addition B) electrophilic substitution C) free radi... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 21 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which type of reaction are alkanes most likely to undergo?
Answer
Alkanes, being saturated hydrocarbons, primarily undergo free radical substitution reactions, especially during halogenation processes (e.g., chlorination and bromination). This reaction occurs when alkanes react with halogens in the presence of UV light, leading to the formation of haloalkanes. Electrophilic and nucleophilic reactions are more characteristic of unsaturated hydrocarbons like alkenes and alkynes due to their double or triple bonds.