Class 12 Chemistry simulations · Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

SN2 and SN1 substitution

Watch OH⁻ attack a bromoalkane from the back (SN2) and compare relative rates for methyl to tertiary substrates.

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What to notice

SN2 slows from methyl to tertiary because of crowding; SN1 speeds up because tertiary carbocations are most stable.

Key relation

SN2: rate = k[RX][Nu⁻] (one step, inversion) ; SN1: rate = k[RX] (carbocation, racemisation)

Try this

Choose the tertiary bromide. Which mechanism wins?

What you can change

• Substrate: choose CH₃Br (methyl), CH₃CH₂Br (1°), (CH₃)₂CHBr (2°), (CH₃)₃CBr (3°)
• Reaction progress: 0 to 100 %

More in Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

• Chirality and enantiomers

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