Which reaction mechanism is primarily involved in the nucleophilic substitution
Practice Questions
Q1
Which reaction mechanism is primarily involved in the nucleophilic substitution of alkyl halides?
SN1
SN2
E1
E2
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which reaction mechanism is primarily involved in the nucleophilic substitution of alkyl halides?
Correct Answer: SN2
Step 1: Understand what a nucleophile is. A nucleophile is a species that donates an electron pair to form a chemical bond.
Step 2: Know what an alkyl halide is. An alkyl halide is a compound where a halogen atom (like Cl, Br, or I) is attached to an alkyl group (a carbon chain).
Step 3: Learn about the SN2 mechanism. SN2 stands for 'Substitution Nucleophilic Bimolecular'.
Step 4: Recognize that in the SN2 mechanism, the nucleophile attacks the carbon atom of the alkyl halide directly.
Step 5: Understand that this attack happens in one step, where the nucleophile replaces the halogen atom.
Step 6: Conclude that the SN2 mechanism is the primary reaction mechanism for nucleophilic substitution of alkyl halides.
