Conversion of Bromomethane to Propanone
Bromomethane can be converted to propanone (also known as acetone) by a multistep process that involves a series of reactions. The overall reaction can be represented as:
CH3Br + 2 KOH + 2 CH3COCH3 → 2 CH3COCH3 + 2 KBr + 2 H2O
Step 1: Preparation of Iodoform
The first step in this process is the preparation of iodoform from bromomethane. This is done by reacting bromomethane with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and iodine (I2) in the presence of water. The reaction can be represented as:
CH3Br + 3 NaOH + I2 → CHI3 + 3 NaBr + 3 H2O
Iodoform is a yellow solid that has a characteristic smell. It is also known as triiodomethane and is used as an antiseptic and disinfectant.
Step 2: Conversion of Iodoform to Acetone
The next step in the process is the conversion of iodoform to acetone. This is done by reacting iodoform with a strong base such as potassium hydroxide (KOH). The reaction can be represented as:
CHI3 + 4 KOH → KCH3COO + 3 KI + 2 H2O
The product of this reaction is potassium acetate (KCH3COO) and potassium iodide (KI) along with water. The potassium acetate is then acidified with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce acetone. The reaction can be represented as:
KCH3COO + HCl → CH3COCH3 + KCl
Acetone is a colorless liquid that has a sweet smell. It is a common solvent used in many industries, including pharmaceuticals, plastics, and cosmetics.
Summary
The conversion of bromomethane to propanone (acetone) involves a multistep process that includes the preparation of iodoform from bromomethane and the conversion of iodoform to acetone using a strong base and acidification. The process can be summarized as:
- Bromomethane + NaOH + I2 → Iodoform
- Iodoform + KOH → Potassium acetate + Potassium iodide + Water
- Potassium acetate + HCl → Acetone + Potassium chloride