Write \"most\" under the member of each trio which is most stable. Write \"least

Question

Write "most" under the member of each trio which is most stable. Write "least" under the member of each trio which is least stable. Write "most under the most reactive compound in an S_N 1 reaction. Write "least" under the least reactive compound in an S_N 1 reaction. Write "most" under the most stable alkene. Write "least" under the least stable alkene. Write "best" under the ion which is the best leaving group in an S_N 1 reaction, and "worst" under the ions which is the worst leaving group in an S_N 1 reaction. Br^- cl^- F^- l^- Write in the product(s). Label products as "major" or "minor" where relevant.

Explanation / Answer

Question 1

a) For the first set of three cations we are asked to write "most" for the most stable and "least" for the least stable. Let's remember this from the general rule for stability of carbocations:

3°>2°>1°

This means a carbon with a positive charge on a tertiary carbon (a carbon that is bonded to 3 other carbons) is the most stable, followed by a secondary carbon and then by a primary carbon being the least stable.

According to the structures given, the second one is the MOST stable (because it has a tertiary carbon with a positive charge) and the first one is the LEAST stable (because it has a primary carbon with a positive charge).

b) For the next set of compounds (the ones with a -Br substituent) we are asked to write "most" with the one that is most reactive in an SN1 reaction. Let's remember SN1 reactions reactivity is directly related to the carbocation fromation, thus, the more stable the carbocation, the more reactive it will be. In this case we must locate the compound that will form the most stable carbocation by taking out the Br and placing a positive charge on the carbon.

Using the information above, the third compound will be the MOST reactive (because taking Br out of it will create a carbocation with a positive charge on a tertiary carbon) while the first one will be the LEAST reactive (because taking Br out of it will create a carbocation with a charge on a primary carbon).

c) Stability of alkenes is related to how manycarbon substituents the carbons in the double bond have, this means that a C=C with 4 carbon substituents will be the most stable.

Using the information above, the first alkene is the MOST stable because it has 4 carbon substituents in the C=C bond while the second alkene is the LEAST stable because it has only 2 carbon substituents in the C=C bond.

d) For leaving groups there's a rule in halogen anions, the more massive the anion, the better leaving group it will be.

Using the information above, I- is the BEST leaving group while F- is the WORST leaving group.

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