Question

What will the major product when ethyl chloride reacts with $KN{O}_2$ ?

• A. Ethylnitrite
• B. Nitroethane
• C. Both ethylnitrite and nitroethane will be formed in equal quantities.
• D. Ethyl nitrate

Answer 1

The correct option is A Ethylnitrite

$KN{O}_2$ is predominantly ionic.​ It exists as free ions in solution. O site is more nucleophilic than N site and available to attack the ethyl chloride. Hence, the major product will be ethyl nitrite.

$C_2{H}_{5}Cl+KN{O}_2\to \underset{\text{Ethylnitrite}}{C_2{H}_{5}ONO}+\underset{\text{Nitroethane}}{C_2{H}_{5}N{O}_2}$