A chemist needs to synthesize a pure sample of ethyl chloride without the need for complex fractional distillation. Which reagent is most suitable?
Q1. A chemist needs to synthesize a pure sample of ethyl chloride without the need for complex fractional distillation. Which reagent is most suitable?
Answer: Thionyl chloride in pyridine
Explanation: SOCl2 yields gaseous SO2 and HCl which escape, leaving pure alkyl halide. PCl3 is tempting but leaves liquid H3PO3 requiring distillation.