Question

Which of the following describes the reaction of benzene with bromine and chlorine next to each other?

A) Bromination only
B) Chlorination only
C) Bromination and chlorination
D) No reaction occurs

Answer 1

Benzene reacts with halogens like bromine and chlorine in the presence of a catalyst to produce aryl halides; however, reaction conditions and catalysts determine whether bromination, chlorination, or both will occur.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks about the reaction between benzene and the halogens bromine and chlorine. When benzene is treated with a halogen such as bromine or chlorine, in the presence of an iron catalyst, a substitution reaction occurs. This reaction replaces one of the hydrogen atoms on the benzene ring with a halogen atom to produce an aryl halide. Given that both bromine and chlorine are present together, the reaction could potentially introduce both a bromine and a chlorine atom onto the benzene ring. However, bromine and chlorine are not equally reactive towards benzene. Bromine is less reactive than chlorine, and therefore, chlorination is generally more likely to occur under normal conditions. Nonetheless, lab conditions and catalysts used can affect this outcome, allowing for either of the reactions or even both.