Substitution and elimination reactions

This course is a part of Organic chemistry, a 14-course Topic series from Khan Academy.

Sn1, Sn2, E1, and E2 reactions form the basis for understanding why certain products are more likely to form than others. We will learn about the reaction mechanisms, and how nucleophilicity and electrophilicity can be used to choose between different reaction pathways.

This course contains 7 segments:

Free radical reaction

In this tutorial, Sal introduces free radical reactions by showing the reaction of methane with chlorine.

Nucleophilicity and basicity

In this tutorial, Sal discusses the difference between nucleophilicity and basicity.

Elimination reactions

In this tutorial, Sal explains the difference between an E1 and an E2 elimination reaction.

Sn1/Sn2/E1/E2

In this tutorial, Sal compares the differences between SN1, SN2, E1, and E2 reactions.

Sn1 and Sn2

In this tutorial, Jay covers the definitions of nucleophile/electrophile, The Schwartz Rules (may the Schwartz be with you!), and the differences between SN1 and SN2 reactions.

E1 and E2 reactions

In this tutorial, Jay covers the E1 elimination mechanism, carbocation rearrangements, and the details of the E2 elimination reaction.

Sn1/Sn2/E1/E2

In this tutorial, Jay discusses the strength of a nucleophile and the differences between SN1, SN2, E1, and E2 reactions.