Question

How are haloalkanes classified?

How are haloalkanes classified? Explain with examples.

How are haloalkanes classified? Give suitable examples.

Answer 1

The classification of alkyl halides (monohalogen derivatives) depends on the nature of the carbon atom to which the halogen atom is attached.

1. Primary (1°) alkyl halides: Primary or 1° alkyl halides are haloalkanes in which a primary carbon atom has a halogen atom attached to that atom.
   For example,
   \[\begin{array}{cc}
   \phantom{..}\ce{H}\\
   \phantom{..}|\\
   \ce{CH3 - C - Br}\\
   \phantom{..}|\\
   \phantom{..}\ce{\underset{(ethyl bromide)}{\underset{Bromoethane}{H}}}
   \end{array}\]
2. Secondary (2°) alkyl halides: Secondary or 2° alkyl halides are haloalkanes that have a secondary carbon atom attached to the halogen atom.
   For example,
   \[\begin{array}{cc}
   \phantom{..}\ce{H}\\
   \phantom{..}|\\
   \ce{CH3 - C - Br}\\
   \phantom{..}|\\
   \phantom{.....}\ce{\underset{(isopropyl bromide)}{\underset{2-bromopropane}{CH3}}}
   \end{array}\]
3. Tertiary (3°) alkyl halides: Tertiary or 3° alkyl halides are haloalkanes that have a halogen atom attached to a tertiary carbon atom.
   For example,
   \[\begin{array}{cc}
   \phantom{.....}\ce{CH3}\\
   \phantom{..}|\\
   \ce{CH3 - C - Cl}\\
   \phantom{..}|\\
   \phantom{.....}\ce{\underset{(tert butyl chloride)}{\underset{2-chloro-2-methylpropane}{CH3}}}
   \end{array}\]