257.
The treatment of alkyl chlorides with aqueous KOH leads to the formation of alcohols but in presence of alcoholic KOH alkenes are major products. Explain.
Aqueous KOH contains only OH- ions, which acts as nucleophile and these bring about hydrolysis of alkyl chlorides to the corresponding alcohol.
![](/application/zrc/images/qvar/CHEN12070861-2.png)
On the other hand, alcoholic KOH contains ethoxide ions (C2H5O–), which are more basic than OH ions. Consequently, the ethoxide ions preferentially brings about dehydro halogenation to form alkenes e.g.,
![](/application/zrc/images/qvar/CHEN12070861-1.png)
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