Chemistry: What are side reactions??

Question

What are side reactions??

Answer 1

When we want a reaction to go according to A + B ---> C
But there exist another possibility A + B ---> D
The process A + B ---> D is regarded as side reaction.

e.g. When we want to obtain alcohol by reaction of chloroalkane with NaOH to give alcohol, some alkene would be formed. The formation of alkene is a side reaction.