The substitution reaction of alkyl halide mainly occurs by SN₁ or SN₂ mechanism. Whatever mechanism alkyl halides follow for the substitution reaction to occur, the polarity of the carbon halogen bond is responsible for these substitution reactions. The rate of SN₁ reactions are governed by the stability of carbocation whereas for SN₂ reactions steric factor is the deciding factor. If the starting material is a chiral compound, we may end up with an inverted product or racemic mixture depending upon the type of mechanism followed by alkyl halide. Cleavage of ethers with HI is also governed by steric factor and stability of carbocation, which indicates that in organic chemistry, these two major factors help us in deciding the kind of product formed.

Predict the stereochemistry of the product formed if an optically active alkyl halide undergoes substitution reaction by SN₁ mechanism.