If a simple distillation was used to isolate the alkyl halide product after reacting with alcohol 2

If a simple distillation was used to isolate the alkyl halide product after reacting with alcohol 2, what temperature would you expect the mixture to distill? at 100C above 110C below 100C between 100C and 110C

The correct answer and explanation is:

The correct answer is below 100°C.

Explanation:

In a reaction where an alkyl halide is isolated by simple distillation after reacting with an alcohol (often a substitution or elimination reaction), the boiling point of the product largely determines the distillation temperature.

1. Typical Boiling Points of Alkyl Halides:
   Alkyl halides generally have boiling points below 100°C, especially simple primary or secondary alkyl halides like methyl chloride, ethyl chloride, or bromoethane. For example:
   • Chloroethane (ethyl chloride): ~12°C (gas at room temp, but if isolated in a mixture, it will distill very early).
   • Bromoethane: ~38°C.
   • 1-chlorobutane: ~78°C.
   These boiling points are usually lower than the boiling points of corresponding alcohols, which tend to have higher boiling points due to hydrogen bonding.
2. Boiling Point of Alcohol 2:
   Alcohols generally have higher boiling points than alkyl halides of similar molecular weight because of hydrogen bonding. For example:
   • Ethanol boils at 78°C.
   • Propanol boils around 97°C.
   • Butanol boils near 118°C.
   Therefore, if the product is an alkyl halide, it will typically boil at a lower temperature than the starting alcohol.
3. Simple Distillation Behavior:
   In simple distillation, components with significantly different boiling points can be separated easily because the vapor primarily consists of the more volatile component (lower boiling point). The distillation temperature usually hovers near the boiling point of the more volatile component.
4. Why Below 100°C?
   Since most alkyl halides have boiling points below 100°C and alcohols have boiling points often at or above 78°C, the distillation of the alkyl halide product will occur below 100°C. It won’t be as high as 110°C or above because that would suggest distilling the alcohol or a mixture closer to the alcohol’s boiling point.

Summary:

• Alkyl halides usually boil below 100°C.
• Alcohols typically boil around or above 78°C.
• Simple distillation favors separation of components with large boiling point differences.
• Hence, when isolating the alkyl halide product by simple distillation, the distillate temperature will be below 100°C.