In a typical synthetic organic lab, and us this week, utilization of a positive

Question

In a typical synthetic organic lab, and us this week, utilization of a positive pressure of argon or nitrogen is essential for the manipulation of reagents and for running reactions under an inert atmosphere. Why do you think argon is preferred? Why are we using a positive pressure of gas with the Grignard reagent in an operational and in reactivity sense? Better put, what would happen if we tried to pull the Grignard reagent out of the bottle without an inert gas inlet? What would happen to the remaining reagent in the bottle?

Explanation / Answer

Advantages of Argon:

i) It is an inert gas does not under go reaction with other substances leading to the degradation.

ii)It is used in high temperature industrial processes.

iii)It is used as an inert gas shielding in welding

Reactivity of Grigard reagent:

1)Grinard reagent RMgX is very sensitive for air & moisture . Hence inert gas atmosphere is used during preparation of Grignard reagent.

2) If Grinard reagent is pulled out of bottle withour inert gas inlet , it reacts with moisture & gets decomposed to form hydrocarbon.

RMgX + H2O ------> R-H + MgX(OH)

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