Question

What happens when ${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{Br}$ is treated with $\mathrm{KCN}$?

Answer 1

Methyl bromide

Methyl bromide is shown by the chemical formula ${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{Br}$. It is also known by the name bromomethane and is considered an organobromine compound.

Chemical reaction of ${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{Br}$ with $\mathrm{KCN}$

• This reaction is considered as a nucleophilic substitution reaction in which cyanide $\left({\mathrm{CN}}^{-}\right)$ and bromide $\left({\mathrm{Br}}^{-}\right)$ will act as a nucleophile and cyanide is a strong nucleophile that replaces the bromide ion.
• The reaction between the two can be shown as follows:

${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{Br}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+\mathrm{KCN}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)\stackrel{}{\to }{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{CN}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+\mathrm{KBr}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)$