Question

what are RCl and NH3 in the reaction : Rcl + NH3 -> RNH2 + Hcl

Answer 1

the question isn't very clear with the wording. here's my guess: this looks like a nucleophillic substitution reaction. i would say RCl is the electrophile because it bears the leaving group.

Answer 2

Wouldn't NH2 be the electrophile?

Answer 3

@gsoda

Answer 4

did the instructor go over how some halogen atoms, like Cl, Br, and I, are usually good leaving groups?

the carbon that is bonded to a good leaving group is a target for nucleophiles. so that makes R-Cl the likely electrophile.

nucleophillic (positive-loving) species usually have this characteristic: non-bonding electron pairs on some atom. in this case NH3 has a lone pair on the nitrogen. so that makes nh3 the likely nucleophile.

the equation tells us that nh3 took the place of the leaving group, so an educated guess is that nh3 uses its lone pair to attack the carbon bearing the Cl atom (leaving group), kicking the Cl- out.

Answer 5

my pet dog looks just like the one pictured in your profile. how lucky of you!

Answer 6

oh and after NH3 bonds to the carbon, the NH3 group loses the proton to Cl-. that's why we end up with R-NH2 and HCl.

Answer 7

@gsoda hahaha how is that lucky??

Answer 8

It's simply a cute coincidence ;)

Answer 9

@gsoda and yes, of course. I tend to confuse basic things when I'm in a rush :/

Answer 10

"R" is often used in organic chemistry to simply mean some alkyl group.