Organic Chemistry (8th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321768418
ISBN 13: 978-0-32176-841-4

Chapter 1 - Introduction and Review - Problems - Page 32: Problem 1-19 a

Answer

The electrophile and the nucleophile, and the curved arrow mechanism are shown in the picture. This reaction is Brønsted–Lowry acid–base reaction.

Work Step by Step

1) HCl is an electrophile because it accepts the lone pair of electrons and $CH_3COH$ is a nucleophile because it donates the pair of electron. 2) The curved arrow originated from the $CH_3COH$ lone pair of oxygen and goes towards the H in HCl. Then the electrons involved in the bond between H and Cl, go to Cl. 3) In this reaction there is a proton transfer from HCl to the C=O group of acetaldehyde. Therefore, it is a Brønsted–Lowry acid–base reaction, with HCl acting as the acid (proton donor) and acetaldehyde acting as the base (proton acceptor).
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