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Electrophilic substitution

physical science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Tiny parts in a mix can swap. This is called electrophilic substitution. In this way, one part moves out. A new part called an electrophile moves in.

Some things have a ring shape. These are called aromatic compounds. In these rings, a part like hydrogen moves out. The electrophile then takes its place. This helps make new things. There are many ways to do this. These ways include nitration and halogenation. Other ways are sulfonation and acylation. Friedel-Crafts reactions are also common.

Other things do not have a ring shape. These are called aliphatic compounds. They can swap parts too. This happens in four different ways. One way is called SE1. In SE1, a part breaks off first. It makes a carbanion. Then, the electrophile joins it. Another way is called SE2. In SE2, the old bond and new bond exist at once. This is a single transition state.

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