SN (nucleophilic substitution) vs. E (elimination) One of the most common questions in organic chemistry: “How do I know if a reaction will be SN1/SN2/E1/E2?” First question: what kind of halide are we dealing with? Methyl Halide: SN1 or SN2…
There are plenty of reactions in organic chemistry, including SN1 and E1, that occur more rapidly when a stable carbocation is formed. What makes a stable carbocation? 3 Things That Stabilize Carbocations Nearby carbon atoms. Nearby double bonds. Nearby lone…
What Makes a Strong Nucleophile? All nucleophiles donate electrons to form a chemical bond. There are 3 things that determine the strength of a nucleophile: Size Smaller or more linear = stronger nucleophile. A small nucleophile has access to more sites where…