Intro to Halogenoalkanes
AQA A-Level Chemistry
3.3.3
Halogenoalkanes are formed when hydrogen atoms in alkanes are replaced by halogen atoms, giving us a new family of organic compounds with very different properties from the alkanes they come from. Building on our understanding of alkanes and free-radical substitution, we can now explore the structure and properties of halogenoalkanes and begin to understand why the presence of a polar carbon–halogen bond makes them significantly more reactive than alkanes. This provides the foundation for understanding the different reactions of halogenoalkanes that follow.
In this topic you will:
- Understand how halogenoalkanes are structured and how they are named using IUPAC rules.
- Explain why carbon–halogen bonds are polar and how their polarity varies between different halogenoalkanes.
- Understand why halogenoalkanes are more reactive than alkanes and why they remain insoluble in water.
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