Question 45 - Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Practice Test for the MCAT

The reaction between 2-Bromopropane and the novel nucleophile Nuc proceeds via an ____ mechanism in which the rate law is ____. (You may consult the attachment.)

Nucleophilic substitution reactions are organic reactions in which an electron-rich substance called a nucleophile reacts with an organic substrate that has an electron-poor carbon atom called an electrophile.

The electrophile has a radical that is a weak base and is substituted by the nucleophile called the leaving group, hence the term nucleophilic substitution.

Nucleophilic substitution can occur via two different mechanisms: \(\text{SN}_1\), in which the rate-determining step is the loss of the leaving group, and \(\text{SN}_2\), in which the rate-determining step is the nucleophilic attack and the simultaneous loss of the leaving group.

A scientist is studying the nucleophilic substitution reaction between 2-Bromopropane and a novel nucleophile (Nuc), collecting the kinetic data that is shown in the table below:

Trial \(N^o\) [2-Bromopropane]
(M)		 [Nuc]
(M)		 Initial Rate
(M/s)
1 0.105 0.056 0.0378
2 0.320 0.056 0.1152
3 0.105 0.072 0.0378
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