Experiment #2

n-Butyl bromide from n-butanol

Group Members Name: Group#: 3

Date performed: Date submitted:

1. Why is concentrated sulfuric acid required for this reaction? Why not just use
sodium bromide and water?

2. Why is the crude product washed with concentrated sulfuric acid? What is
removed by this wash?

3. Why is the crude product next washed with water?

4. Why is the crude product finally washed with 10% aqueous sodium bicarbonate
solution?

5. At the start of the experiment, there is only one liquid layer. During the course of
the experiment, a second liquid layer appears. Why does this happen? What is
the composition of the second liquid layer?

6. In this experiment, an alcohol ahs been converted to an alkyl halide. It is also

possible, however to convert an alkyl halide to an alcohol. What determined the
direction of this reaction?