Chapter 7 - Alkyl Halides Flashcards
A primary carbon has how many R groups?
One R group
A secondary carbon has how many R groups?
Two R groups
A tertiary carbon has how many R groups?
Three R groups
What kinds of interactions do alkyl halides exhibit?
Diple-dipole and Van der Waals
As basicity increases, leaving group ability (increases / decreases)?
As basicity increases, leaving group ability decreases. Basicity and leaving group ability have an inverse relationship.
Basicity (increases / decreases) as you go left -> to -> right across the periodic table
Basicity decreases moving left -> to -> right
Basicity (increases / decreases) as you go down a column in the periodic table
Basicity decreases moving down a column
Iodine is the least basic (organic) element on the periodic table, making it the (best / worst) leaving group
Iodine is the best leaving group on the periodic table
What is the difference between a nucleophile and a base?
A base attacks a proton. A nucleophile attacks electron-deficient atoms (usually carbon).
Does steric hindrance decrease nucleophilicity or basicity?
Steric hindrance influences nucleophilicity. A base is unaffected by the sterics of a molecule.
What substitution mechanism (Sn1 or Sn2) do tertiary carbons undergo?
Tertiary carbons undergo the Sn1 mechanism
What substitution mechanism (Sn1 or Sn2) do primary carbons undergo?
Primary carbons undergo the Sn2 mechanism
Polar protic solvents form ion-dipole interactions with (cations / anions)
Polar protic solvents form ion-dipole interactions with cations
Polar protic solvents form hydrogen bonds with (cations / anions)
Polar protic solvents form hydrogen bonds with anions
Sn1 Reactions undergo two separate steps. What does the first step accomplish?
The first step creates a cation for the nucleophile to attack.
What three factors affect Sn1 reactions?
- Structure of the Starting Material
- Solvent
- Leaving Group
Inductive Effect
The methyl groups on the carbocation are slightly electron donating, which stabilizes the positively charged carbocation.
What kind of solvents do Sn1 reactions use? Why do they use these solvents?
Sn1 reactions use polar protic solvents. These solvents are used because they allow the reaction to proceed faster.
Which of the following reactions creates a racemic mixture: Sn1 or Sn2?
Sn1 reactions create a racemic mixture
How many steps are in an Sn2 reaction? How many components are in it’s rate equation?
There is one step in an Sn2 reaction. It has two components to it’s rate equation: the nucleophile/base and the electrophile/leaving group.
