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What is the reaction mechanism for the nucleophilic substitution of chloroethane with aqueous sodium hydroxide? Provide the balanced equation, steps involved, and identify the products formed.

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The reaction between chloroethane  CH3CH2Cl  and aqueous sodium hydroxide  NaOH  is a nucleophilic substitution reaction, specifically an SN2 reaction. In this reaction, the hydroxide ion  OH-  acts as a nucleophile and attacks the electrophilic carbon atom in chloroethane, leading to the substitution of the chlorine atom with the hydroxide ion.Balanced equation:CH3CH2Cl + NaOH  CH3CH2OH + NaClSteps involved:1. The hydroxide ion  OH-  acts as a nucleophile and attacks the electrophilic carbon atom in chloroethane, which is bonded to the chlorine atom.2. The carbon-chlorine bond starts to break as the carbon-oxygen bond begins to form. This occurs in a single concerted step, which is characteristic of an SN2 reaction.3. The chlorine atom leaves as a chloride ion  Cl- , and the hydroxide ion has now replaced the chlorine atom, forming ethanol  CH3CH2OH .Products formed:1. Ethanol  CH3CH2OH 2. Sodium chloride  NaCl

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