Question detail
What is the product formed when an acyl chloride reacts with an alcohol?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
Question
Type
exam_style
Style
Topic
Carboxylic acids and derivatives (A-level only)
Question
What is the product formed when an acyl chloride reacts with an alcohol?
Answer
The product formed is an ester. This answer is anchored to Carboxylic acids, esters and acyl derivatives (A-level only).
Explanation
The product formed is an ester. is the best answer because it directly supports the AQA A-Level Chemistry objective to explain reactions of acyl chlorides and acid anhydrides. This reasoning is anchored to Carboxylic acids, esters and acyl derivatives (A-level only) in Carboxylic acids and derivatives (A-level only), and it separates acyl chloride from similar A-Level ideas rather than relying on a vague recall statement. Other options are weaker if they use the wrong evidence, calculation, mechanism, observation, unit, or conclusion for this subtopic.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Reactivity
Students often confuse the reactivity of acyl chlorides with that of carboxylic acids, thinking they react in the same way with nucleophiles.
Remember that acyl chlorides are more reactive than carboxylic acids due to the presence of the chlorine atom, which is a better leaving group. Focus on the mechanism of nucleophilic addition-elimination for acyl chlorides.
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