5.1.2
Mechanism
Reaction Mechanisms
Reaction Mechanisms
A reaction mechanism shows the formation of new bonds in the sequence they are created.
Curly arrows
Curly arrows
- A curly arrow is used to show the movement of a pair of electrons.
- This is useful to show the formation of new bonds.
Bond breaking
Bond breaking
- A curly arrow can also be used to show the breaking of a bond.
Free radicals
Free radicals
- A free radical is a molecule or atom with an unpaired electron.
- Free radicals are very reactive molecules.
- An unpaired electron is shown using a dot.
1Physical Chemistry
1.1Atomic Structure
1.1.1Fundamental Particles
1.1.2Isotopes & Mass Number
1.1.3Mass Spectrometry
1.1.4Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals
1.1.5Electron Configuration
1.1.6Ionisation Energy
1.1.7Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies
1.1.8Trends of Ionisation
1.1.9Specific Impacts on Ionisation Energies
1.1.10End of Topic Test - Atomic Structure
1.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Atomic Structure
1.2Amount of Substance
1.3Bonding
1.3.1Ionic Bonding
1.3.2Covalent & Dative Bonding
1.3.3Carbon Structures
1.3.4Metallic Bonding
1.3.5Physical Properties
1.3.6Shapes of Molecules
1.3.7Polarity
1.3.8Intermolecular Forces
1.3.9Intermolecular Forces 2
1.3.10End of Topic Test - Bonding
1.3.11Exam-Style Question - Shape of Molecules
1.3.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Bonding
1.4Energetics
1.5Kinetics
1.6Equilibria
2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
2.1Thermodynamics (A2 Only)
2.2Rate Equations (A2 Only)
2.3The Equilibrium Constant Kp (A2 Only)
2.4Electrochemical Cells (A2 Only)
2.5Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.1Brønsted-Lowry Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.2pH (A2 Only)
2.5.3The Ionic Product of Water (A2 Only)
2.5.4Weak Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.5pH Curves & Titrations (A2 Only)
2.5.6pH Curves & Titrations 2 (A2 Only)
2.5.7Buffer Solutions (A2 Only)
2.5.8End of Topic Test - Acids & Bases
2.5.9Exam-Style Question - Weak Acids
2.5.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Acids & Bases
3Inorganic Chemistry
3.1Periodicity & Trends
4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
4.1Period 3 (A2 Only)
4.2Transition Metals (A2 Only)
4.2.1General Properties (A2 Only)
4.2.2Substitution Reactions (A2 Only)
4.2.3Shapes of Complex Ions (A2 Only)
4.2.4Colours of Ions (A2 Only)
4.2.5Variable Oxidation States (A2 Only)
4.2.6Titrations (A2 Only)
4.2.7Homogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)
4.2.8Heterogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)
4.2.9End of Topic Test - Transition Metals
4.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Transition Metals
4.3Reactions of Ions in Aqueous Solutions (A2 Only)
5Organic Chemistry 1
5.1Introduction
5.2Alkanes
5.3Halogenoalkanes
5.4Alkenes
5.5Alcohols
5.6Organic Analysis
5.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 1
6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)
6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)
6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)
6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)
6.5Amines (A2 Only)
6.6Polymers (A2 Only)
6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)
6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)
6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)
6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)
6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2
Jump to other topics
1Physical Chemistry
1.1Atomic Structure
1.1.1Fundamental Particles
1.1.2Isotopes & Mass Number
1.1.3Mass Spectrometry
1.1.4Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals
1.1.5Electron Configuration
1.1.6Ionisation Energy
1.1.7Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies
1.1.8Trends of Ionisation
1.1.9Specific Impacts on Ionisation Energies
1.1.10End of Topic Test - Atomic Structure
1.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Atomic Structure
1.2Amount of Substance
1.3Bonding
1.3.1Ionic Bonding
1.3.2Covalent & Dative Bonding
1.3.3Carbon Structures
1.3.4Metallic Bonding
1.3.5Physical Properties
1.3.6Shapes of Molecules
1.3.7Polarity
1.3.8Intermolecular Forces
1.3.9Intermolecular Forces 2
1.3.10End of Topic Test - Bonding
1.3.11Exam-Style Question - Shape of Molecules
1.3.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Bonding
1.4Energetics
1.5Kinetics
1.6Equilibria
2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
2.1Thermodynamics (A2 Only)
2.2Rate Equations (A2 Only)
2.3The Equilibrium Constant Kp (A2 Only)
2.4Electrochemical Cells (A2 Only)
2.5Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.1Brønsted-Lowry Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.2pH (A2 Only)
2.5.3The Ionic Product of Water (A2 Only)
2.5.4Weak Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.5pH Curves & Titrations (A2 Only)
2.5.6pH Curves & Titrations 2 (A2 Only)
2.5.7Buffer Solutions (A2 Only)
2.5.8End of Topic Test - Acids & Bases
2.5.9Exam-Style Question - Weak Acids
2.5.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Acids & Bases
3Inorganic Chemistry
3.1Periodicity & Trends
4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
4.1Period 3 (A2 Only)
4.2Transition Metals (A2 Only)
4.2.1General Properties (A2 Only)
4.2.2Substitution Reactions (A2 Only)
4.2.3Shapes of Complex Ions (A2 Only)
4.2.4Colours of Ions (A2 Only)
4.2.5Variable Oxidation States (A2 Only)
4.2.6Titrations (A2 Only)
4.2.7Homogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)
4.2.8Heterogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)
4.2.9End of Topic Test - Transition Metals
4.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Transition Metals
4.3Reactions of Ions in Aqueous Solutions (A2 Only)
5Organic Chemistry 1
5.1Introduction
5.2Alkanes
5.3Halogenoalkanes
5.4Alkenes
5.5Alcohols
5.6Organic Analysis
5.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 1
6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)
6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)
6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)
6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)
6.5Amines (A2 Only)
6.6Polymers (A2 Only)
6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)
6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)
6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)
6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)
6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2
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