Basics of Reaction Mechanisms
How chemists describe the step-by-step process of an organic reaction.
Types of Bond Fission
- Homolytic fission — a bond breaks with each atom keeping one electron, producing free radicals
- Heterolytic fission — a bond breaks with both electrons going to one atom, producing ions
Common Reactive Intermediates
Organic reactions often proceed through short-lived intermediates like carbocations, carbanions, and free radicals.
Lesson 22 of 26