An alkyl chloride 'X' reacts with magnesium metal in dry ether to form a Grignard reagent. This Grignard reagent is then treated with solid carbon dioxide, followed by acid hydrolysis, to yield 2 -methylpropanoic acid. Identify the alkyl chloride 'X' .

Step-by-step solution

The reaction of an alkyl chloride X ( R-Cl ) with magnesium in dry ether forms a Grignard reagent RMgCl . R-Cl + Mg dry ether RMgCl The Grignard reagent reacts with solid CO₂ followed by acid hydrolysis to form a carboxylic acid RCOOH . RMgCl + CO₂ H₃O^+ RCOOH The product is given as 2 -methylpropanoic acid, which has the structure (CH₃)₂CH-COOH . Comparing RCOOH with (CH₃)₂CH-COOH , the alkyl group R is the isopropyl group, (CH₃)₂CH- . Therefore, the alkyl chloride X is isopropyl chloride, which is 2 -chloropropan