Reference Terms
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Haloalkane
A haloalkane, also known as an alkyl halide, is a type of organic compound in which one or more hydrogen atoms in an alkane have been replaced by halogen atoms—such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine. These compounds are typically classified based on the number of carbon atoms bonded to the carbon bearing the halogen, resulting in primary, secondary, or tertiary haloalkanes.
Haloalkanes are used in a variety of applications, including as solvents, refrigerants, propellants, and intermediates in chemical synthesis. They are reactive due to the polarized carbon-halogen bond, making them important in substitution and elimination reactions in organic chemistry.
Some haloalkanes, particularly chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), have raised environmental concerns due to their role in ozone layer depletion. Despite this, haloalkanes remain important industrial chemicals and are widely studied for their reactivity and applications.
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