Question
Chemistry Question on Organic Chemistry- Some Basic Principles and Techniques
Which compound is gem-dihalide?
Answer
A gem-dihalide refers to a compound that contains two halogen atoms (such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine) bonded to the same carbon atom. The term "gem" is short for geminal, indicating that the halogens are attached to adjacent positions on the carbon atom.
The general structural formula for a gem-dihalide is:
R-X-X'
Here, R represents the rest of the molecule (which can be a simple alkyl group or a more complex moiety), and X and X' represent the two halogen atoms.
An example of a gem-dihalide is 1,1-dibromopropane, which has the structure:
CH3-CH(Br)-Br
In this compound, the two bromine atoms are attached to the same carbon atom, making it a gem-dihalide.