Question detail
How does the carbon-halogen bond enthalpy affect the rate of nucleophilic substitution reactions?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Halogenoalkanes
Question
- A. Higher bond enthalpy leads to faster reactions
- B. Lower bond enthalpy leads to faster reactions
- C. Bond enthalpy has no effect on reaction rate
- D. All carbon-halogen bonds have the same enthalpy
Answer
Lower bond enthalpy leads to faster reactions
Explanation
Lower carbon-halogen bond enthalpy means that the bond is easier to break, facilitating the nucleophilic substitution reaction and increasing the reaction rate.
Common mistake
Understanding Nucleophilic Substitution
Students often confuse the roles of nucleophiles and electrophiles in nucleophilic substitution mechanisms.
To clarify, remember that nucleophiles are electron-rich species that donate a pair of electrons to form a bond, while electrophiles are electron-deficient species that accept electron pairs. For example, in the reaction of a halogenoalkane with OH-, the hydroxide ion (OH-) acts as the nucleophile, attacking the carbon atom bonded to the halogen, which is the electrophile due to its partial positive charge.
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