11.5 - Reaction mechanisms

Question 1

how are covalent bonds broken?

Answer 1

homolytic or heterolytic bond fission

Question 2

what is homolytic fission?

Answer 2

when a covalent bond breaks and each bonding atom takes one of the shared pair of electrons.

each atom now has single unpaired electron.

now called a radical

Question 3

what is heterolytic fission?

Answer 3

when a covalent bond breaks and one of the bonding atoms takes both of the electrons from the bond.

the atom that takes both becomes a negative ion.

the atom that takes none becomes a positive ion.

Question 4

what do curly arrows show?

Answer 4

the movement of electron pairs when bonds are broken or made.

Question 5

addition reaction

Answer 5

two reactants join together to form one product

Question 6

substitution reaction

Answer 6

an atom/group of atoms is replaced by a different atom/group of atoms.

Question 7

elimination reaction

Answer 7

a removal of a small molecule from a larger one