Procedure
Ph3CBr in Toluene
Ph3CBr in Toluene + Zn
Filtrate warmed
Tube shaken
Air admitted + Shaking
Iodine added
Before
White/yellow powdery solid
Clear light yellow
Bright yellow
Clear bright orange
Clear dull yellow
Bright yellow
After
Clear light yellow
Dark orange, opaque
Clear bright orange
Clear dull yellow
Translucent white-yellow
No colour change, some precipitate
2. If a nonpolar solvent had been used instead of the polar solvent, which was used, the reaction would
have been much slower. This is because the reaction mechanism is Sn1. In Sn1 reactions, a carbocation
is created. This reaction intermediate is more stable/ more easily achieved in polar solvents.
3. The triphenylmethyl radical is especially stable compared to a methyl radical because there are many
resonance forms to stabilize the radical with the triphenylmethyl radical.