Acids + Bases

Question 1

The Lewis definition concerns itself with the

Answer 1

Transfer of electrons

Question 2

The Brønsted–Lowry definition focuses on

Answer 2

Proton transfer

Question 3

An acid–base reaction will only proceed if the products that will be formed are

Answer 3

Weaker than the original reactants

Question 4

Lewis acids tend to be

Answer 4

Electrophiles

Question 5

Lewis acids have

Answer 5

Vacant p-orbitals

Question 6

A Lewis base is defined as an

Answer 6

Electron donor

Question 7

Ka is given by

Answer 7

Ka = [H][A-] / [HA]

Question 8

How is the pKa of strongly acidic molecules?

Answer 8

Super small / negative

Question 9

How is the pKA for basic molecules?

Answer 9

Large

Question 10

Which pKa values are considered as strong?

Answer 10

Acids with a pK below –2

Question 11

Weak organic acids often have pKa values between

Answer 11

-2 and -20

Question 12

The more electronegative an atom, the

Answer 12

Higher the acidity

Question 13

Which are the main functional groups that act as bases?

Answer 13

Amines and amides

Question 14

Nucleophiles are defined as

Answer 14

“nucleus-loving” species with either lone pairs or π

bonds that can form new bonds to electrophiles

Question 15

Good nucleophiles tend to be

Answer 15

Good bases

Question 16

Nucleophilicity is determined by:

Answer 16

• Charge
• Electronegativity
• Steric Hinderance
• Solvent

Question 17

Nucleophilicity increases with

Answer 17

Increasing electron / negative charge

Question 18

Nucleophilicity decreases as

Answer 18

Electronegativity increases

Question 19

In polar protic solvents, nucleophilicity increases

Answer 19

Down the periodic table

Question 20

In polar aprotic solvents, nucleophilicity increases

Answer 20

Up the periodic table

Question 21

What are leaving groups?

Answer 21

The molecular fragments that retain the electrons after

heterolysis

Question 22

What make good leaving groups?

Answer 22

Weak bases, like conjugate bases of strong acids

Question 23

Why don’t alkanes and hydrogen ions serve as good leaving groups?

Answer 23

They form very reactive, strongly basic anions

Question 24

What is necessary in order for the nucleophile to attack?

Answer 24

It must be more reactive than the leaving group

Question 25

What happens in both S 1 and S 2 reactions?

Answer 25

A nucleophile forms a bond with a substrate carbon and a leaving group leaves

Question 26

What happens in SN1?

Answer 26

• LG leaves, forming carbocation

- Nucleophile attacks carbocation

Question 27

In SN1, the rate of the reaction depends on the

Answer 27

Substrate

Question 28

SN2 only has one step, resulting in

Answer 28

A backside attack

Question 29

SN2 reactions prefer

Answer 29

Less-substituted reactions

Question 30

For a reaction involving nucleophiles and electrophiles,

reactions also tend to occur at

Answer 30

The highest-priority functional group because it

contains the most oxidized carbon.

Question 31

SN2 reactions won’t occur with

Answer 31

3º

Question 32

Good electrophiles are

Answer 32

Positively charged or polarized

Question 33

Good leaving groups are

Answer 33

Weak bases

Question 34

SN1 reactions show first-order kinetics because

Answer 34

The rate-limiting step involves only one molecule

Question 35

Which alcohols can undergo oxidation?

Answer 35

1º and 2º

Question 36

Ketones are less reactive compared to aldehydes due to

Answer 36

Steric hinderance