ANSWER:
Since ethanol is less polar than water and SN1 requires the polar solvent for the solvation of alkyl halide to form the carbocation. The rate determining step of SN1reaction is the solvation of alkyl halide to give carbocation. 50:50 ethanol/water solvent is more polar than pure ethanol solvent. Thus, 50:50 ethanol/water solvent will give SN1 reaction faster than ethanol solvent. So, removal of chloride ion from 2-chlorobutane is easy in 50:50 ethanol/water solvent due to its polarity.
Thus, rate of reaction will be faster in case of 50:50 ethanol/water mixture than pure ethanol solvent.
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