Final answer:
The elimination reactions of alkyl halides when reacted with a strong base are called dehydrohalogenation. These reactions can also be described as beta elimination or 1,2-elimination, and often follow E1 or E2 mechanisms. The correct answer is option: A) Dehydrohalogenation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The elimination reactions of alkyl halides when reacted with a strong base are commonly referred to as dehydrohalogenation. This reaction involves the removal of a hydrogen atom and a halogen atom (such as Cl, Br, or I) from adjacent carbon atoms within the molecule, resulting in the formation of an alkene (a double bond between the two carbon atoms).
These reactions can follow two mechanisms: E1 and E2, with E2 being a bimolecular elimination, where the base simultaneously attacks the hydrogen while the halogen leaves, thus occurring in a single step. On the other hand, E1 involves the formation of a carbocation intermediate.
It's important to note that the base can either perform a substitution, where it replaces the halogen atom, or elimination, where it takes the hydrogen atom forming a double bond. This action differentiates beta (β) elimination (E2) from substitution mechanisms (like SN2). Furthermore, since the elimination results in the removal of HX or HOH, these reactions are sometimes referred to as 1,2-elimination, denoting the positions of the atoms being removed.