When ethyl chloride is heated with AgCN, the main product is :

Options

A. ethyl cyanide
B. ethyl isocyanide
C. ethyl amine
D. ethyl nitrate

Answer

To solve the question of what the main product is when ethyl chloride is heated with AgCN, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Reactants
- Ethyl chloride (C2H5Cl) is an alkyl halide where a chlorine atom is attached to an ethyl group.
- Silver cyanide (AgCN) contains the cyanide ion (CN⁻), which can act as a nucleophile.

**Hint:** Identify the functional groups present in the reactants to understand how they might interact.

### Step 2: Identify the Nature of AgCN
- AgCN is a covalent compound that can dissociate to provide the cyanide ion (CN⁻) and silver ion (Ag⁺).
- The cyanide ion can act as a nucleophile due to the presence of a negative charge.

**Hint:** Recognize that nucleophiles are species that can donate a pair of electrons to form a new bond.

### Step 3: Mechanism of Reaction
- When ethyl chloride is heated with AgCN, the cyanide ion (CN⁻) attacks the carbon atom of the ethyl chloride.
- This attack leads to the displacement of the chloride ion (Cl⁻), which is a good leaving group.

**Hint:** Remember that nucleophilic substitution reactions often involve the replacement of a leaving group with a nucleophile.

### Step 4: Determine the Product
- The nucleophilic attack results in the formation of a new bond between the carbon atom of the ethyl group and the nitrogen atom of the cyanide ion.
- The product formed is ethyl isocyanide (C2H5N≡C), where the cyanide group is attached to the ethyl group.

**Hint:** Consider the structure of the product to confirm that it matches the expected outcome of the reaction.

### Step 5: Conclusion
- The main product of the reaction between ethyl chloride and AgCN when heated is ethyl isocyanide.

**Final Answer:** Ethyl isocyanide (C2H5N≡C).

### Summary of Steps:
1. Identify the reactants and their functional groups.
2. Understand the role of AgCN as a source of cyanide ion.
3. Analyze the mechanism of nucleophilic substitution.
4. Determine the structure of the resultant product.
5. Conclude with the name of the product.