Question

Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding benzyl chloride ?

• A. It gives white precipitate with alcoholic $AgN{O}_3$.
• B. It is an aromatic compound with substitution in the side chain.
• C. It undergoes nucleophilic substitution reaction.
• D. It is less reactive than vinyl chloride.

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

It is less reactive than vinyl chloride.

Benzyl chloride is more reactive than vinyl chloride. The halogen atom in vinyl chloride is not reactive as in other alkyl halides. The non-reactivity of chlorine atom is due to resonance stabilization. The lone pair on chlorine can participate in delocalization (Resonance) to give two canonical structures. Carbon-chlorine bond in vinyl chloride has some double bond character and is, therefore, stronger than a pure single bond.