CAIE A Level Chemistry 9701 · Halogen compounds
2-bromo-2-methylpropane, , is a tertiary halogenoalkane. A student adds a few drops of aqueous silver nitrate, , in ethanol to a sample of 2-bromo-2-methylpropane and warms the mixture. A precipitate forms quickly.
Explain why this reagent can be used to identify the halogen present in a tertiary halogenoalkane, and explain why the precipitate forms quickly in this case. In your answer, refer to the mechanism of the reaction.
7 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 7 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.
Explain means: Give the reasons or the mechanism: why or how something happens. Link each point to the next with because, so or which means. A list of facts with no links usually loses the reasoning marks.
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