Question

Alkyl halides give alcohol with aqueous KOH whereas in the presence of alcoholic KOH, alkenes are formed. Give reasons.

Answer 1

- Aqueous KOH promotes nucleophilic substitution (SN1/SN2) reactions; OH− acts as the nucleophile, yielding alcohols.
- Alcoholic KOH, containing stronger alkoxide ions (RO−), acts as a stronger base, favoring E2 elimination reactions and forming alkenes.