Question

What is the final product obtained when chlorine reacts with ethyl alcohol in $\mathrm{KOH}$?

• A. ${\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{Cl}$
• B. ${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{Cl}$
• C. ${\mathrm{CHCl}}_3$
• D. ${\mathrm{CCl}}_3\mathrm{CHO}$

Answer 1

The correct option is C

${\mathrm{CHCl}}_3$

Explanation for correct option

(C) ${\mathbf{CHCl}}_{\mathbf{3}}$

Chemical property of alcohols

• Alcohols are naturally acidic.
• They react with metals like salt and potassium.
• It is due to the polarity of the hydrogen-oxygen bond in the hydroxyl group.
• Secondary and tertiary alcohols are less acidic than primary alcohols.

Reaction of chlorine reacts with ethyl alcohol in $\mathrm{KOH}$

• When chlorine $\left({\mathrm{Cl}}_2\right)$reacts with ethyl alcohol $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}\right)$ in presence of potassium hydroxide $\left(\mathrm{KOH}\right)$, chloroform $\left({\mathrm{CHCl}}_3\right)$ is obtained.
• The reaction is as follows:

$\begin{array}{rcl}{\mathrm{Cl}}_2+{\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}& \to & {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{CHO}+2\mathrm{HCl}\\ {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{CHO}+3{\mathrm{Cl}}_2& \to & {\mathrm{CCl}}_3\mathrm{CHO}+3\mathrm{HCl}\\ {\mathrm{CCl}}_3\mathrm{CHO}+\mathrm{KOH}& \to & {\mathrm{CHCl}}_3+\mathrm{HCOOK}\end{array}$

Explanation for incorrect options

• The final product is chloroform. Hence all other options (A), (B) and (D) are incorrect.

Therefore, the correct option is (C) ${\mathbf{CHCl}}_{\mathbf{3}}$.