Substitution reactions

Definition

In organic chemistry, substitution reactions are a type of chemical reaction where an atom or a group of atoms in a molecule is replaced by another atom or group of atoms. These reactions are fundamental to synthesizing new compounds and modifying the structures of existing ones.

Related terms

Nucleophile:

A chemical species that donates an electron pair to an electrophile to form a chemical bond in relation to nucleophilic substitution reactions.

Electrophile:

A positively charged or neutral species that seeks out electrons, making it susceptible to attack by nucleophiles.

Leaving Group:

An atom or group that detaches from the parent molecule during a substitution reaction, allowing the nucleophile to take its place