Question

Performed Iodination of Salicylamide demonstrating electrophilic aromatic substitution. My suspicion is that this experiment would fail if NaI were substituted with NaCl to makechlorosalicylamide. Explain why the experiment would not be

(as) successfulwith NaCl.

Answer 1

Reaction would fail if NaCl is used in place of NaI

The electrophile is used in the Iodination of Salicylamide is formed by the reaction of sodium hypochlorite NaOCl with iodide ion. The I⁺ ion is formed which is a strong electrophile, hence, reacts quickly in an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction.

                                            NaOCl + NaI → I⁺

However, if we use NaCl in place of NaI. The electrophilic Cl⁺ will not be generated and hence the reaction would fail.