The products A and B in the following reactions, respectively are: A Ag-NO2 CH3-CH2-CH2-Br AgCN B

Reaction with $\ce{AgNO2}$:

$\ce{AgNO2}$ is an ionic silver salt. The $\ce{NO2^-}$ ion is an ambident nucleophile (can attack through N or O).

With $\ce{AgNO2}$: The silver coordinates with oxygen, making O the attacking end → alkyl nitrite ($\ce{R-O-N=O}$) is the major product.

$\ce{CH3CH2CH2Br + AgNO2 -> CH3CH2CH2-ONO}$ (propyl nitrite) → A = $\ce{CH3CH2CH2-ONO}$

Reaction with AgCN:

$\ce{AgCN}$ is a covalent silver compound. The $\ce{CN^-}$ is an ambident nucleophile (attacks through C or N).

With $\ce{AgCN}$: Silver coordinates with N, making C the attacking end → nitrile ($\ce{R-CN}$) is the major product.

$\ce{CH3CH2CH2Br + AgCN -> CH3CH2CH2-CN}$ (butanenitrile) → B = $\ce{CH3CH2CH2-CN}$

Answer: A = $\ce{CH3CH2CH2-ONO}$, B = $\ce{CH3CH2CH2-CN}$ → Option (b)

Key Points:

• $\ce{AgNO2}$ (ionic) → O-attack → alkyl nitrite ($\ce{R-ONO}$)
• $\ce{AgCN}$ (covalent) → C-attack → nitrile ($\ce{R-CN}$)
• $\ce{NaNO2}$ (ionic) → N-attack → nitroalkane ($\ce{R-NO2}$)
• $\ce{KCN}$ (ionic) → C-attack → nitrile ($\ce{R-CN}$)