Rate Laws: Unimolecular vs Bimolecular Mechanisms: Mechanism + Exam Traps

Connect rate laws to mechanism identification: why SN1/E1 are first-order in substrate, while SN2/E2 depend on both substrate and nucleophile/base.

  • Reaction: Rate Laws: Unimolecular vs Bimolecular Mechanisms
  • What it does: Connect rate laws to mechanism identification: why SN1/E1 are first-order in substrate, while SN2/E2 depend on both substrate and nucleophile/base.
  • Typical reagents: Compare kinetics: H2O (SN1) vs NaI/acetone (SN2)
  • Key intermediate: Carbocation
  • Driving force: Formation of more stable bonds / products
  • Exam type: Predict major product
  • Exam type: Mechanism choice

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