Asked in PMC Practice Test 3 (2022) 2022Moderate

During the course of a SN1reaction, the intermediate species formed is:

Correct answer: A. A carbocation

  • A. A carbocation
  • B. A free radical
  • C. A carbanion
  • D. An intermediate complex

Explanation

In the first step of an SN1 reaction, the halide atom of the alkyl halide is removed, and the carbon atom becomes sp2 hybridized. The halide ion is highly electronegative, and there is heterolytic bond breakage. It results in a positive charge on the C-atom and it becomes a carbocation.

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About Nucleophilic Substitution

Nucleophilic substitution replaces a leaving group in an alkyl halide when an electron-rich nucleophile attacks the carbon atom. The topic compares SN1 and SN2 mechanisms, including reaction conditions, substrate structure, solvent effects, nucleophile strength, carbocation formation and stereochemical changes, and distinguishes substitution from elimination.

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