How aryl halides react with sodium metal? Explain why alkyl halides show nucleophilic substitution reaction ?

Explanation

Haloalkanes undergo nucleophilic substitution reactions. For example,
` underset("Bramomethane ")(overset(delta +)(CH_3) - overset(delta -)(Br) ) underset("(Nucleophile )")(OH^(-)) to underset("Methanol ")(CH_3 -OH +Br^(-))`
The reaction proceeds smoothly due to natural attraction between electron rich nucleophile and +vely charged carbon atom. An electrophile cannot approach +vely charged carbon atom due to possible repulsions, Haloarenes undergo electrophilic substitution reactions.

In this reaction the attacking species is chlorium ion (`CI^(+)`)-an electrophile. This is due to natural attraction between electrophile and electron rich benzene ring. An electron rich nucleophile cannot approach an electron rich benzene ring due to possible repulsions.