Question

Name the reaction when an alkyl halide is treated with alcoholic potassium hydroxide.

Answer 1

• An alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) is used for dehydrohalogenation of haloalkane and results in the formation of alkenes.
• This is known as an elimination reaction.
• Alcoholic KOH dissociates in water to give ${\mathrm{RO}}^{-}$ ions which is a strong base. It abstracts hydrogen, giving rise to elimination in reaction.
• The chemical reaction is given as follows:

$\underset{\mathrm{Alkyl}\mathrm{halide}}{{\mathrm{CH}}_3-{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{Cl}}\stackrel{\mathrm{alc}.\mathrm{KOH}}{\to }\underset{\mathrm{Alkene}}{{\mathrm{CH}}_2={\mathrm{CH}}_2}$