key term - Rate constant

Definition

The rate constant is a numerical value that represents the speed of a chemical reaction, specifically how quickly reactants are converted to products in a given reaction. In the context of SN2 reactions in organic chemistry, it helps determine the rate at which an alkyl halide undergoes nucleophilic substitution.

Related terms

Nucleophilic Substitution:

A type of chemical reaction where an electron-rich nucleophile selectively bonds with or attacks the positive or partially positive charge of an atom or a group of atoms to replace a leaving group.

Activation Energy:

The minimum amount of energy required to start a chemical reaction by enabling reactants to collide with enough kinetic energy to form products.

Alkyl Halide:

Organic compounds containing halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine) attached to an alkyl group, which are key substrates in SN2 reactions due to their ability to act as electrophiles