Why is C-Cl bond in acyl chloride more reactive despite being highly polarized?

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In summary: This is why Acetone is more reactive than Chlorobenzene. The halogen atom in Chlorobenzene has delocalized its electron so the polarity of the C-X bond decreases. Whereas for Haloalkanes the halogen atom is in a direct bond with the oxygen atom, so the polarity is the same across the ring.
  • #1
AryaUnderfoot
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For acyl chloride the very electronegative oxygen atom attracts electrons of the carbon atom, thus greatly polarised the C-Cl bond. But won't it attract electrons of the Cl atom too? Then with the electrons drifting towards the C atom, it's partial positive charge should be reduced, but why is that wrong?
Also, since the C-Cl bond is greatly polarised, the bonding should be stronger, isn't it? Like C-F bond is more polar than C-Cl bond, so the fluoroalkane is less reactive than chloroalkane, but why is that acyl chloride, with its very polarised C-Cl bond, so reactive?
And for chlorobenzene, the electrons on halogen atom are delocalised into the benzene ring, causing the polarity of C-X bond to decrease, but why is it that the bond is stronger than haloalkane?
I realize that this is a very long question, thank you for your patience
 
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  • #2
Chlorine electronegativity is not much lower than that of oxygen.
 
  • #3
Borek said:
Chlorine electronegativity is not much lower than that of oxygen.
I don't understand
 
  • #4
You can't assume oxygen draws the electrons from the carbon, and chlorine doesn't.
 
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  • #5
Borek said:
You can't assume oxygen draws the electrons from the carbon, and chlorine doesn't.
Ohhh, I got it
But what about the next question? I thought the more polarised a bond is, the stronger it is, so it's less reactive?
 
  • #6
AryaUnderfoot said:
For acyl chloride the very electronegative oxygen atom attracts electrons of the carbon atom, thus greatly polarised the C-Cl bond. But won't it attract electrons of the Cl atom too? Then with the electrons drifting towards the C atom, it's partial positive charge should be reduced, but why is that wrong?
Also, since the C-Cl bond is greatly polarised, the bonding should be stronger, isn't it? Like C-F bond is more polar than C-Cl bond, so the fluoroalkane is less reactive than chloroalkane, but why is that acyl chloride, with its very polarised C-Cl bond, so reactive?
And for chlorobenzene, the electrons on halogen atom are delocalised into the benzene ring, causing the polarity of C-X bond to decrease, but why is it that the bond is stronger than haloalkane?
I realize that this is a very long question, thank you for your patience
Both C=O or C-O and C-Cl are polarized, Oxygen does attract e from Carbon towards itself, and so does Chloride, which leaves the positively charged carbon atom to be easily attacked by nucleophiles (e.g water).
 
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1. What does it mean for a molecule to be "more polarized"?

When a molecule is polarized, it means that the distribution of its electrons is uneven, with one side having a slightly negative charge and the other side having a slightly positive charge. This occurs when there is a difference in electronegativity between the atoms in the molecule. The more polarized a molecule is, the greater the difference in charge between its ends.

2. How does polarization affect a molecule's reactivity?

A more polarized molecule is more reactive because the uneven distribution of charge creates a dipole moment, making the molecule more reactive to other molecules or ions with opposite charges. This allows for stronger interactions and reactions to occur between molecules, increasing the overall reactivity of the system.

3. Can all molecules be polarized?

No, not all molecules can be polarized. Only molecules with polar bonds, such as those between atoms with significantly different electronegativities, can be polarized. Additionally, the molecular geometry and symmetry can also affect a molecule's polarity and its ability to be polarized.

4. How can the level of polarization in a molecule be determined?

The level of polarization in a molecule can be determined by measuring its dipole moment, which is the measure of the separation of charges in a molecule. This can be done experimentally using techniques such as infrared spectroscopy or computationally using quantum mechanical calculations.

5. Why is polarization important in chemical reactions?

Polarization is important in chemical reactions because it allows for stronger interactions between molecules, making reactions more efficient and increasing the rate at which they occur. It also plays a crucial role in many biological processes, such as enzyme-substrate interactions and cell signaling.

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