Which reagent is used to convert an alcohol into an alkyl chloride?

Solution

1. The conversion of alcohol to alkyl chloride is a substitution reaction.
2. ${\text{SOCl}}_2$ reacts with alcohols to produce alkyl chlorides.
3. The reaction is $\text{R-OH}+{\text{SOCl}}_2\to \text{R-Cl}+{\text{SO}}_2+\text{HCl}$.
4. The byproducts ${\text{SO}}_2$ and $\text{HCl}$ are gases.
5. Hence the answer is (A).