Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

Question

Hydrogen atom of chloroform is definitely acidic, but that of methane is not. Why?

Answer

Hydrogen atom of chloroform is acidic due to three electronegative chlorine atoms present on carbon. They latter accquires a partial positive charge due to -I effect of chlorine with the result it tends to attract electrons to the C-H bonds towards itself. Hence the removal of hydrogen atoms as proton becomes easy.

Sponsor Area