It is a colorless, volatile liquid at room temperature that is not miscible in water.

The boiling points of chlorides are lower than bromides or iodides due to the small size of chlorine relative to other halogens, and its weaker intermolecular forces.

Although addition of a hydrogen halide to an alkene is stereoselective, the symmetrical structure of 2-butene prevents an anti-Marknikov product from forming due to both sides of the double bond having the same stability.

In an Sn2 reaction, a nucleophile (iodine) attacks the partially positive carbon, which eliminates the chlorine.

In it, the chlorine leaving group is removed, and the double bond is restored to yield different constitutional isomers.

It is important to note that as a secondary alkyl halide, both E2 and Sn2 reactions are equally likely when reacting with a substance that can act as both a base and a nucleophile.