Nitriles & Hydroxynitriles (Cambridge (CIE) A Level Chemistry): Exam Questions

When 1-chloropropane is heated under reflux with ethanolic potassium cyanide, KCN, the following reaction occurs.

CH₃CH₂CH₂Cl + KCN → CH₃CH₂CH₂CN + KCl

i) Draw the displayed formula of the organic product formed in this reaction.

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ii) State the systematic name of this organic product.

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Suggest why this reaction is useful to chemists during the synthesis of other organic compounds.

The CH₃CH₂CH₂CN can undergo hydrolysis.

i) Construct an equation for the acid hydrolysis of CH₃CH₂CH₂CN.

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ii) Draw the displayed formula of the intermediate formed when CH₃CH₂CH₂CN is hydrolysed by sodium hydroxide.

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