Question

\[{\rm{R}} - {\rm{X}} + {\rm{NaOH}} \to {\rm{ROH}} + {\rm{NaX}}\]
The above reaction is classified as
A. Nucleophilic addition reaction
B. Electrophilic substitution reaction
C. Reduction
D. Oxidation

Answer 1

Hint: Nucleophilic reactions are the organic reactions in which replacement of a nucleophile by another nucleophile takes place. There are two types of nucleophilic reactions namely\[{\rm{S}}{{\rm{N}}^{\rm{1}}}\] and \[{\rm{S}}{{\rm{N}}^2}\].

Complete Step by Step Solution:
Let’s first understand what a nucleophile and electrophile is. A nucleophile is defined as a negatively charged chemical species that donates its electron pairs to an electrophile to result a chemical bond. For example, halogen ions (\[{\rm{C}}{{\rm{l}}^ - },{\rm{B}}{{\rm{r}}^ - },{{\rm{I}}^ - }\] ), Hydroxide ions (\[{\rm{O}}{{\rm{H}}^ - }\] )etc.
Electrophiles are chemical species which are electron deficient in nature. And they can take electron pairs from nucleophiles. Example, Hydronium ions (\[{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{3}}}{{\rm{O}}^{\rm{ + }}}\] ).
Let’s understand two terms related to nucleophilic substitution, that is, substrate and leaving group. In a nucleophilic substitution, the group that leaves the Carbon atom after taking the electron air is called leaving group. And the molecule where substitution occurs is termed substrate.
Here, the reaction given is \[{\rm{R}} - {\rm{X}} + {\rm{NaOH}} \to {\rm{ROH}} + {\rm{NaX}}\]. Here, the nucleophile \[{\rm{O}}{{\rm{H}}^ - }\] replaces the X (Halogen group) from the haloalkene. So, reaction is a nucleophilic addition reaction.
Hence, option A is right.
Additional information:
In \[{\rm{S}}{{\rm{N}}^{\rm{1}}}\] reaction, the reaction occurs in two steps. In the first step, the formation of carbocation occurs. And in the next step, a nucleophilic attack occurs. The rate-determining step is the first step.

Note: In \[{\rm{S}}{{\rm{N}}^2}\]reaction, the reaction occurs in one step. The nucleophilic attack occurs at the back side of the leaving group. There is simultaneous attack of the nucleophile and leaving of the group from the compound. The \[{\rm{S}}{{\rm{N}}^2}\]reaction depends on the steric hindrance. More the steric hindrance, less the chemical species undergo \[{\rm{S}}{{\rm{N}}^2}\]reaction, therefore, the order of reactivity of haloalkanes in \[{\rm{S}}{{\rm{N}}^2}\]reaction is \[1^\circ > 2^\circ > 3^\circ \].