JEE Main Chemistry question

Which of the following statements about benzyl chloride is incorrect?

(A)It is less reactive than alkyl halidesCorrect
(B)It can be oxidised to benzaldehyde by boiling with copper nitrate solution
(C)It is a lachrymatory liquid and answers Beilstein's test
(D)It gives a white precipitate with alcoholic silver nitrate

Answer: (A)

Solution

Benzyl chloride, , ionises unusually easily because its benzylic carbocation is strongly stabilised by resonance with the aromatic ring, so it is actually significantly more reactive towards nucleophilic substitution than ordinary (non-benzylic) alkyl halides — readily giving a white AgCl precipitate

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Question ID VK-148086