What happens when:
(i) Ethyl alcohol is heated in the presence of Al2O3 at 493 K?
(ii) Ethylene dibromide is heated with zinc dust?
The -bond is weaker than carbon-carbon σ bond. Explain.
The >C = C< bond is made of σ bond and bond. The bond is weaker than σ bond because electron in the bond are more diffused in space i.e. orbitals participating in the bond formation overlap sidewise only to small extent. On the other hand, orbitals participating in the σ bond formation overlap axially to a greater extent.
The greater the extent of overlapping, the higher the probability of finding the valence electrons in between the nuclei and hence the bond will be stronger and shorter. Hence overlap in bond is less effective as compared to σ bond.
Discuss the mechanism of addition hydrogen acids to symmetrical alkenes. Justify the order of reactivity of halogen acids HI > HBr > HCl.