Question

Which chloride is the most reactive towards aqueous NaOH in:

• A. Methyl chloride
• B. Chlorobenzene
• C. Vinyl chloride
• D. Benzyl chloride

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Methyl chloride

1) Methyl chloride is most reactive towards aqueous $NaOH$.

2) This reaction is a nucleophilic substitution reaction in which the nucleophile $O{H}^{-}$ from $NaOH$ replaces $C{l}^{-}$ ion.

3) The $C-Cl$ bond in alkyl chlorides is weak as compared to $C-Cl$ bond in chloro benzene and vinyl chloride.