Introduction To Reaction Mechanisms Flashcards
What can covalent bonds be described as?
A shared pair of electrons between to atoms.
What can covalent bonds be broken by?
Homolytic or heterolytic fission
What is homolytic fission?
Each of the atoms takes one of the shared pair of electrons from the bond.
What does each atom involved in covalent bonding have as a result of homolytic fission?
A single unpaired electron.
What is a radical?
An atom or group of atoms with an unpaired electron.
What is heterolytic fission?
This is where one of the atoms takes both of the electrons from the bond.
What happens to the atom that takes both electrons in heterolytic fission?
It becomes a negative ion.
What happens to the atom that does not take any electrons in heterolytic fission?
It becomes a positive ion.
What does a curly arrow represent?
The movement of electron pairs when bonds are being broken or made.
What are the three types of reaction?
Addition
Substitution
Elimination
What happens in an addition reaction?
Two reactants join together.
What happens in a substitution reaction?
An atom or group of atoms is replaced by an atom or different group of atoms.
What happens in an elimination reaction?
A small molecule is removed from a larger one.
How can you tell if an addition reaction has taken place?
There are more reactants than products.
How many products and reactants are involved in a substitution reaction?
There should be the same number of compounds on each side.
