Questions: What is the mechanism for the reaction of chloromethane, CH3Cl, with hydroxide in the equation below? CH3Cl + OH^- -> CH3OH + Cl^- A. electrophilic addition B. electrophilic substitution C. nucleophilic substitution D. nucleophilic addition

What is the mechanism for the reaction of chloromethane, $\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{Cl}$, with hydroxide in the equation below? \[ \mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{Cl}+\mathrm{OH}^{-} \rightarrow \mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{OH}+\mathrm{Cl}^{-} \] A. electrophilic addition B. electrophilic substitution C. nucleophilic substitution D. nucleophilic addition

Analyze the reaction

In the given reaction, $\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{Cl}$ reacts with hydroxide ion ($\mathrm{OH}^{-}$). The hydroxide ion has a negative charge, meaning it has an excess of electrons. It acts as a nucleophile, attacking the carbon atom in $\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{Cl}$, which is bonded to the more electronegative chlorine atom. This causes the chlorine atom to leave as a chloride ion ($\mathrm{Cl}^{-}$). The hydroxide ion effectively substitutes the chloride ion. This type of reaction is known as a nucleophilic substitution reaction.

Identify the mechanism

Since a nucleophile ($\mathrm{OH}^{-}$) replaces a leaving group ($\mathrm{Cl}^{-}$), the mechanism is nucleophilic substitution.

\(\boxed{C}\)

C