Question

which reaction is faster and why ? (0.1 ml 2-Chlorobutane and 1% ethanolic silver nitrate solution) or (0.1 ml 2-Chlorobutane and silver nitrate in a mixture of 50% ethanol-50% water)

Answer 1

2-chlorobutane is secondary alkyl halide. The ease of the SN1 and SN2 is same with this substrate. Therefore, it would undero both to rpoduce 2-nitro butane with AgNO3. In addition to the SN2, SN1 gets faster with the increased polarity of the system i.e. 50% of water and 50% of ethanol is used and hence the second reaction is faster