11.5 Introduction to Reaction Mechanisms Flashcards
Chapter 11 - Basic Concepts of Organic Chemistry
What is a covalent bond?
The strong electrostatic attraction between a shared pair of electrons and the nuclei of the bonded atoms.
What is homolytic fission?
The breaking of a covalent bond with one of the bonded electrons going to each atom, forming two radicals. Each atom now has a single unpaired electron.
What is a radical?
An atom or a group of atoms with an unpaired electron.
What is heterolytic fission?
The breaking of a covalent bond forming a cation (positive ion - doesn’t gain the electrons) and an anion (negative ion - gains both electrons) as one of the bonded atoms takes both of the electrons from the bond.
What is meant by a reaction mechanism?
The sequence of bond breaking and bond-forming steps that show the path taken by electrons during a reaction.
What do curly arrows show?
The movement of electron pairs when bonds are being broken or made.
What is an addition reaction?
A reaction in which two reactants join together to form one product.
What is a substitution reaction?
A reaction in which an atom or group of atoms is replaced with a different atom or group of atoms.
What is an elimination reaction?
The removal of a molecule from a saturated molecule to make an unsaturated molecule. One reactant forms two products.
