Question

What is the common name of halo alkane?

Answer 1

Halo alkane:

• Halo alkanes are commonly known as alkyl halides.
• In alkanes, there are only carbon and hydrogen atoms present but in halo alkane, one of the hydrogens is replaced by a halogen atom.
• The generalized formula of alkyl halide can be shown as follows:

${\mathrm{C}}_{\mathrm{n}}{\mathrm{H}}_{2\mathrm{n}+1}\mathrm{X}$, where X represents halogen atom such as $\mathrm{F},\mathrm{Cl},\mathrm{Br}\mathrm{or}\mathrm{I}$.

Example of haloalkane:

• Chloroethane is an alkyl halide having a molecular formula ${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{Cl}$.
• Bromobutane is an alkyl halide with a molecular formula ${\mathrm{C}}_4{\mathrm{H}}_9\mathrm{Br}$.

Thus, haloalkanes are commonly known as alkyl halides.