Reaction mechanisms

Question 1

What do curly arrow represent?

Answer 1

Curly arrows represent the movement of a pair of electrons

Question 2

Describe the positioning of a curly arrow when drawn in a question:

Answer 2

A curly arrow will start from the lone pair of electrons and move towards the positively charged area of the molecule to form a new bond

Question 3

What is a feature of free radicals?

Answer 3

A feature free radicals is they are usually extremely reactive

Question 3

What are free radicals?

Answer 3

Free radicals are atoms/groups of atoms which have a single unpaired electron

Question 4

What does the dot represent in the formula of a radical?

Answer 4

The dot is usually used to represent the free radical. It is a single dot next to the atom with the unpaired electron

Question 5

State two places in a reaction mechanism from which a curly arrow can start?

Answer 5

A curly arrow can start from a lone pair of electrons or a bonding pair of electrons

Question 6

What is heterolytic fission?

Answer 6

When covalent bond breaks in a way that allows the more electronegative atoms to take both the electrons from the bond to form a negative ion, leaving behind a positive ion

Question 7

What is homolytic fission?

Answer 7

When covalent bond is broken in such a way that each atom takes an electron from the bond to form two radicals