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  • Ethanoyl Chloride and Silver Nitrate Reaction: Mechanism & Products
    The reaction between ethanoyl chloride (CH₃COCl) and aqueous silver nitrate (AgNO₃) results in a substitution reaction where the chlorine atom in ethanoyl chloride is replaced by the nitrate ion from silver nitrate. Here's a breakdown:

    Reaction Equation:

    CH₃COCl (l) + AgNO₃ (aq) → CH₃CO₂Ag (aq) + AgCl (s) + HNO₃ (aq)

    Explanation:

    * Ethanoyl chloride (CH₃COCl) is a reactive acyl chloride.

    * Aqueous silver nitrate (AgNO₃) provides the nitrate ion (NO₃⁻) and silver ion (Ag⁺).

    * Silver chloride (AgCl) is a white precipitate that forms, indicating the reaction has occurred.

    * Ethanoic acid (CH₃CO₂H) is a weak acid formed as a byproduct of the reaction.

    * Nitric acid (HNO₃) is a strong acid also formed as a byproduct.

    Mechanism:

    The reaction proceeds through a nucleophilic acyl substitution mechanism.

    1. Nucleophilic attack: The nitrate ion (NO₃⁻) acts as a nucleophile, attacking the carbonyl carbon of ethanoyl chloride.

    2. Leaving group departure: The chlorine atom, a good leaving group, departs from the carbonyl carbon, forming a tetrahedral intermediate.

    3. Proton transfer: A proton is transferred from the tetrahedral intermediate to the nitrate ion, regenerating the nitrate ion and forming ethanoic acid (CH₃CO₂H).

    4. Formation of silver ethanoate: The silver ion (Ag⁺) reacts with the ethanoate ion (CH₃CO₂⁻) to form silver ethanoate (CH₃CO₂Ag), which remains in solution.

    Overall, the reaction between ethanoyl chloride and aqueous silver nitrate results in the formation of silver chloride precipitate, silver ethanoate in solution, and nitric acid.

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