Exploring the Dynamics of Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions: Understanding the Role of Entropy and Potential Energy in SN1 and SN2 Pathways

Author Info

Jawad Alzeer

Corresponding Author

Jawad Alzeer
Swiss Scientific Society for Developing Countries, Zurich, Switzerland

A B S T R A C T

The fundamental interplay between potential energy and entropy is a key facet of chemical reactions. Potential energy signifies stored energy in a chemical system, while entropy quantifies disorder. Understanding this connection is pivotal for comprehending reaction dynamics. This manuscript delves into the intricate relationship between potential energy and entropy, investigating their influence on chemical reactions. Potential energy arises from atomic and molecular positions, while entropy reflects molecular arrangement randomness. The equilibrium of these factors impacts reaction feasibility and kinetics. Through analysis, we explore how nucleophilic substitution reactions, essential for organic synthesis, showcase the potential energy-entropy interplay. Excessive potential energy with low entropy and excessive entropy both impede reactions. Favorable alignment of potential energy and entropy promotes reactions, yielding diverse energy states. Understanding potential energy and entropy interaction provides insights into reaction feasibility, rate, and control. This enriches foundational chemistry comprehension, facilitating efficient, predictable reaction design.

Article Info

Article Type

Review Article

Publication history

Received: Mon 21, Aug 2023
Accepted: Wed 30, Aug 2023
Published: Mon 11, Sep 2023

Copyright

© 2023 Jawad Alzeer. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Hosting by Science Repository.
DOI: 10.31487/j.AJMC.2023.01.02