4C - Haloalkanes definitions Flashcards
Catalyst
A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being used up in the process; a catalyst provides analternative route for the reaction with lower activation energy.
Hetrogeneous catalyst
A reaction by which the catalyst has a different physical state from the reactants; frequently reactants are gases whilst the catalyst is solid
Heterolytic fission
The breaking of a covalent bond with both of the bonded electrons going to each atom forming a cation and anion
Homogeneous catalyst
A reaction in which the catalyst and reactants are in the same physical state, which is most frequently the gasesous or aqueous state.
Homolytic fission
The breaking of a covalent bond with one of the bonded electrons going to each atom forming two radicals.
Hydrolysis
A reaction with water that breaks a chemical compound into two compounds, the H and OH in a water molecule becomes incoporated into the two compounds.
Nucleophile
An atom (or group of atoms) which is attracted to an electron deficient centre or atoms on the carbon atom.
Reflux
The continual boiling and condensing of a reaction mixture back to the original containor to ensure that the reaction takes place without the contents of the flask boiling dry.
Substitution reaction
A reaction in which an atom or group of atoms is replaced with a different atom or group of atoms.