09/22/23

How can I convince my parents to get me a cat?
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •1

11/25/22

Is BrCh2Br possible if not why?
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •1

07/17/19

Why are tertiary carbocations the most reactive, if they're already stable?
This may seem silly, but doesn't it seem weird for a compound that's stable (in this context, the tertiary carbocation) to be the most reactive? I mean, wouldn't it be the least, given that it's... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/17/19

Does resorcinol give positive iodoform test?
It's given in my book that other than the usual compounds that answer iodoform test, resorcinol (benzene-1,3-diol) also gives positive iodoform test. Is this because of tautomerization which gives... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/09/19

Why is the exo product formed in the Diels–Alder reaction between furan and maleic anhydride?
For most Diels–Alder reactions, the major product is *endo* because there are favourable interactions between the newly forming pi bond and the electron withdrawing groups of the dienophile. Why... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/09/19

How many hydride ions are available in NaBH4?
Different sources have different answers. In the reduction of an aldehyde or ketone to an alcohol by Sodium Borohydride, how many moles of aldehyde are reduced by one mole of Sodium... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/06/19

Why are the two CH2 groups in allene perpendicular to each other?
Allene, $\\ce{H2C=C=CH2}$, has two $\\ce{=CH2}$ groups perpendicular to each other. This is the same as hydrogen peroxide's $\\ce{H}$ atoms. Is there any reason why they adopt the perpendicular... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

07/05/19

Why do BH3 and NaBH4 have different selectivities?
I've always known borane ($\\ce{BH3}$), as a reagent for alkene hydroboration. Recently in class we talked about its use in the reduction of carboxylic acids to alcohols as well. Now obviously... more
Follows • 2
Expert Answers •1

06/26/19

Why do SN2 reactions of alkyl halides proceed differently with KCN and AgCN?
Alkyl halides react with $\\ce{KCN}$ to form alkyl cyanides as the main product, whereas the use of $\\ce{AgCN}$ leads to isocyanides as the chief product. Why does this happen?
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

06/26/19

Is the ammonium substituent (-NH3+) really meta-directing in electrophilic substitution?
If we make a resonance structure for the anilinium ion, with positive charge at either the *ortho* or the *para* position, we get a pentavalent nitrogen, which is not possible. So, how is the... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

06/24/19

Clemmensen reduction vs. Wolff-Kishner reduction?
In which cases is the Clemmensen reduction is preferred over the Wolff-Kishner reduction? One thing is that the Clemmensen reduction is done under acidic conditions whereas the Wolff-Kishner... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

06/24/19

Is the t-butyl carbocation more stable than the benzyl carbocation?
Various authors have different views regarding stability order of the benzyl and *t*-butyl carbocations. $$\\ce{PhCH2+ ; (CH3)3C+}$$ In my opinion, resonance effect dominates, so the benzylic... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

06/05/19

What's the key difference between conjugated system vs resonance?
They're used interchangeably at times, but they're supposed to have a key difference.
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

04/16/19

Significance & applications of polarizability for nucleophiles?
One of the reasons given for the greater nucleophilicity of iodine ion compared to fluorine ion is the greater polarizability of the large electron cloud of iodine. The other reason given is that... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

03/27/19

Why does fructose reduce Tollen's reagent and Fehling's solution?
Even though fructose is a ketohexose (ketone-containing hexose, a six-carbon monosaccharide), it reduces Tollen's reagent and Fehling's solution. Generally, a ketone does not reduces Tollen's... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

03/19/19

What can I do if I don't get a phase separation between my organic and water phases?
Solvent extraction in a separation funnel is a very common method in preparative organic chemistry. But sometimes you don't get a nice phase separation between the organic and the water phase.... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

03/19/19

Thermodynamic stability of meta-xylene over ortho- and para-isomers?
When talking about the example of the alkylation of toluene by chloromethane in the presence of $\\ce{AlCl3}$, Hepworth, Waring and Waring (2002) mentioned that: >At room temperature, a mixture... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

03/18/19

What determines whether a step in a reaction is reversible?
What makes a step in a reaction not reversible? I'm learning all these mechanisms and having to memorize which steps are reversible. Is there a way to figure out whether it's reversible or not?
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

03/16/19

Why is mercury a "fancy proton"?
I remember that one of my old organic chemistry profs referred to mercury as being a "fancy proton". I think it was in the context of oxymercuration reduction. What might have been his rationale... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

03/16/19

Do drugs' levo isomers have a better interaction with the receptors in our body than dextro isomers?
Examples of *levo* drugs include levothyroxine, levocitrizine, and levodopa. Is there any specific reason why the receptors in our body exhibit this stereoisomerism and hold a high preference for... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2

03/15/19

How small is the smallest known carbon ring containing only double bonds?
How small is the smallest known carbon ring containing only double bonds? The stress from the double bonds makes small rings impossible to make something like cyclohexahexaene so I want to know... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

03/15/19

Why do esters actually smell?
We all know the very famous esterification reaction, where a carboxylic acid and an alcohol react to give an ester and water. But why do they actually smell? What is the reason behind its aromatic... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

03/15/19

What is the perfect definition for chirality?
Why is chirality defined differently for organic and inorganic compounds? Why are inorganic compounds deemed to be optically active if they have more than one of the same ligands attached to the... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •2

03/15/19

Why is 70% ethanol preferred for aseptic techniques?
Are other concentrations (say 80%) less effective,or is this just for convenient manufacturing? Is the concentration chosen only because it is less volatile than 100 percent ethanol and hence safer?
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

03/15/19

In the Favorskii rearrangement, why doesn't the base grab the alpha hydrogen of the carbon bearing the halogen?
In the Favorskii rearrangement, the base (like hydroxide) always abstracts the alpha hydrogen of the carbon not bearing the halogen. But to me the hydrogens on the carbon directly connected to the... more
Follows • 1
Expert Answers •1

Still looking for help? Get the right answer, fast.

Ask a question for free

Get a free answer to a quick problem.
Most questions answered within 4 hours.

OR

Find an Online Tutor Now

Choose an expert and meet online. No packages or subscriptions, pay only for the time you need.