What is a Finkelstein Reaction

Q. What is a Finkelstein Reaction?

Ans:- The Finkelstein reaction is a substitution type of reaction named after Hans Finkelstein, a german chemist who published his work in 1910. It is a reaction that involves the exchange of one halogen atom from another. Halide salt is used for the reaction that can be driven to completion by exploiting the differential solubility, which shows it as an equilibrium reaction.

This reaction entails the conversion of alkyl bromide or an alkyl chloride to an alkyl iodide. The treatment does it with a sodium iodide solution in acetone. Acetone is the smallest and simplest ketone. Its features are it is colourless, flammable and highly volatile. This reaction is used for analysis as alkyl halides that differ in the ease they undergo. The reaction was used as a  qualitative test to check from which class an unknown alkyl halide belongs. This reaction produces alkyl, and the synthesis of chrysophanic acid is also done. Acetone is used in the reaction as it is an organic solvent widely used for organic reactions. 

This is a substitution nucleophilic biomolecular reaction. One halogen left the group in this reaction, and another halogen atom replaced it. It is an SN2 reaction. In the reaction, metal halides such as sodium chloride and sodium bromide are not soluble in acetone. In the insoluble metal, halides are removed continuously from the solution. The success of this reaction depends on the nucleophilicity of the attacking halide ion, nature of leaving the group, the reactivity of alkyl halide and stability of carbon halogen bond in alkyl halide.