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Grade 12Physical Chemistry

In sn2 reaction which reaction is faster . The nucleophile coming or halide leaving

Profile image of Shreya
9 Years agoGrade 12
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2 Answers

Profile image of Shramana Kar
9 Years ago
In sn2 there is only one step & it is the rate determining step. In sn2 the attacking of nucleophile & leaving of halide take place in a same time. When nu starts creating a bond with alpha carbon leaving group starts breaking the previous bond with alpha carbon. In transition state both nu & leaving group stay with alpha carbon by two partial bonds. Then the leaving group leaves & nu creates a covalent bond with alpha carbon. So both steps, attacking of nu & halide leaving takes equal time.Please approve my answer if you find it helpful...
Profile image of harsha
9 Years ago
SN2 is a nuclephilic substiution reaction which takes place in a single step mechanism. The bond breaking and bondmaking occurs at the same time!