Mechanisms

Question 1

curly arrows

Answer 1

formal movement of electrons from one end of the arrow to the other

Question 2

where does the curly arrow start?

Answer 2

area of high electron density

e.g. lone pairs, negative charge

Question 3

nucleophiles

Answer 3

donate electrons to form new bonds

Lewis bases (electron supplying reagent)

Question 4

electrophiles

Answer 4

accept electrons to form new bonds
-> some become electron-acceptors by breaking a single covalent bond = sigma bond or a double covalent bond (pi bond)

Lewis acid (electron seeking reagent)

Question 5

why does bromide form instead of hydride when an hydroxide ion attacks HBr?

Answer 5

bromide is more stable than hydride

don’t want a species with a negative charge to approach a species with more e- in its valence shell

Question 6

basicity

Answer 6

affinity of a reagent towards a proton

Question 7

nucleophility

Answer 7

affinity of a reagent towards carbon or other atoms

Question 8

which is weaker and why: C-H or O-H?

Answer 8

O-H

C-H is non-polar

oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen ∴ hydrogen can be taken away from oxygen easier than carbon