# A industrial chemist is producing a batch of 1-bromopropane from propan-1-ol. Explain how the chemist could confirm that the product is a haloalkane and not an alcohol, and describe what is observed at each stage of the test.

> OCR A-Level Chemistry B: Salters (H433) — 4.2 Alcohols, haloalkanes and analysis · Explain · 5 marks

> Propan-1-ol is reacted with a reagent to produce 1-bromopropane. Both compounds are colourless liquids at room temperature. The chemist needs to confirm the identity of the final product.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Add (acidified) silver nitrate solution to a sample of the product dissolved in water / add AgNO₃ solution
2. A precipitate forms with the haloalkane (1-bromopropane) because haloalkanes react with silver nitrate to produce a silver halide precipitate
3. The precipitate is cream / pale yellow in colour (confirming bromide ions / a bromoalkane)
4. Propan-1-ol (the alcohol) would not produce a precipitate with silver nitrate because it does not contain a halide ion
5. This shows the product contains a halide / is a haloalkane and is not an alcohol, confirming the identity of 1-bromopropane

## Key terms

- [haloalkane](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/haloalkane)
- [alcohol](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/alcohol)

## Related

- [Revision notes for OCR A-Level Chemistry B: Salters (H433)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

---
Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-industrial-chemist-is-producing-a-9a565573) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.