Chapter 14: Q14.144CP (page 625)

Cyclopropane (C₃H₆), the smallest cyclic hydrocarbon, is reactive for the same reason white phosphorus is. Use bond properties and valence bond theory to explain its high reactivity.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The smallest cyclic hydrocarbon, cyclopropane, has the following structure:

Cyclopropane

Cyclopropane is extremely reactive due to the following factors:

1. Strain in a ring

2. Small amount of overlapping

3. Bond is weaker.

Step by step solution

Strain in a ring

Each carbon atom in the cyclopropane molecule above has a bond angle. Ring strain is caused by the triangular structure of cyclopropane, which has a quite modest bond angle compared to. Cyclopropane will become extremely reactive as a result of this ring strain.

Small amount of overlapping

Because the ring is short, the overlapping between orbitals is limited, making Cyclopropane extremely reactive.

Bond is weaker

The connections between them become weak and reactive due to a modest degree of overlapping and ring strain.

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Cyclopropane (C₃H₆), the smallest cyclic hydrocarbon, is reactive for the same reason white phosphorus is. Use bond properties and valence bond theory to explain its high reactivity.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Strain in a ring

Small amount of overlapping

Bond is weaker

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Cyclopropane (C3H6), the smallest cyclic hydrocarbon, is reactive for the same reason white phosphorus is. Use bond properties and valence bond theory to explain its high reactivity.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Strain in a ring

Small amount of overlapping

Bond is weaker

One App. One Place for Learning.

Most popular questions from this chapter

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Cyclopropane (C₃H₆), the smallest cyclic hydrocarbon, is reactive for the same reason white phosphorus is. Use bond properties and valence bond theory to explain its high reactivity.