When ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH) comes into contact with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), a reaction can occur. Let's discuss the details of this reaction.



Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol, is a common organic compound with the chemical formula C2H5OH. It is a colorless liquid with a characteristic odor and is widely used as a solvent, fuel, and in the production of alcoholic beverages.

Carbon tetrachloride, on the other hand, is a colorless liquid with the chemical formula CCl4. It is a powerful solvent and was historically used in fire extinguishers and as a dry cleaning agent. However, due to its toxic nature and environmental concerns, its use has been greatly restricted.



The reaction between ethyl alcohol and carbon tetrachloride can be described as follows:

C2H5OH + CCl4 → C2H4Cl2 + HCl

In this reaction, ethyl alcohol reacts with carbon tetrachloride to form ethylene dichloride (C2H4Cl2) and hydrochloric acid (HCl).



The exact mechanism of this reaction involves the following steps:

1. The oxygen atom of the alcohol group in ethyl alcohol acts as a nucleophile and attacks the carbon atom of the carbon tetrachloride molecule, displacing one chlorine atom.

2. This forms a new carbon-oxygen bond and creates a tetrahedral intermediate.

3. The tetrahedral intermediate then loses a proton to form ethylene dichloride and hydrochloric acid as products.



The reaction between ethyl alcohol and carbon tetrachloride is not commonly utilized in synthetic chemistry due to the toxic nature of carbon tetrachloride. However, this reaction serves as an example of a nucleophilic substitution reaction and demonstrates the reactivity of ethyl alcohol towards certain halogenated compounds.



In summary, the reaction between ethyl alcohol and carbon tetrachloride results in the formation of ethylene dichloride and hydrochloric acid. This reaction showcases the nucleophilic substitution capability of ethyl alcohol and provides insight into the chemical reactivity of these compounds.

Ccl4 is non pollar compound so can't react with alcohol