Hydrolysis of haloalkane -- nucleophillic substituion

The nucleophile, OH – , approaches the carbon atom attached to the halogen on the opposite side of the molecule from the halogen atom. • This direction of attack by the OH –minimises repulsion between the nucleophile and the δ– halogen atom • A lone pair of electrons on the hydroxide ion is attracted and donated to the δ+ carbon atom. • A new bond is formed between the oxygen atom of the hydroxide ion and the carbon atom 2. The carbon – halogen bond breaks by heterolytic fission 3. The new organic product is an alcohol, a halide ion is also formed