Textbook Question
Provide an arrow-pushing mechanism for the following hypothetical base half-reactions.
(b)
862
views
Ch. 4 - Acids and Bases: Electron Flow
Mullins1st EditionOrganic Chemistry: A Learner Centered ApproachISBN: 9780137566471
Not the one you use?Change textbookSelect a different textbook
Table of contents
- Ch. 2 - General Chemistry Translated: Finding the Electrons114
- Ch. 3 - Alkanes and Cycloalkanes: Properties and Conformational Analysis109
- Ch. 4 - Acids and Bases: Electron Flow144
- Ch. 5 - Chemical Reaction Analysis: Thermodynamics and Kinetics118
- Ch. 6 - Stereoisomerism: Arrangement of Atoms in Space112
- Ch. 7 - Principles of Green (Organic) Chemistry3
- Ch. 8 - Alkenes I: Properties and Electrophilic Additions158
- Ch. 9 - Alkenes II: Oxidation and Reduction150
- Ch. 10 - Alkynes: Electrophilic Addition and Redox Reactions101
- Ch. 11 - Properties and Synthesis of Alkyl Halides: Radical Reactions108
- Ch. 12 - Substitution and Elimination: Reactions of Haloalkanes172
- Ch. 13 - Alcohols, Ethers and Related Compounds: Substitution and Elimination239
- Ch. 14 - Structural Identification I: Infrared Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry54
- Ch. 15 - Structural Identification II: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy93
- Ch. 16 - Metals in Organic Chemistry48
- Ch. 17 - Carbonyl Addition Reactions: Aldehydes and Ketones45
- Ch. 18 - Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution I: Carboxylic Acids18
- Ch. 19 - Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution II: Carboxylic Acid Derivatives39
- Ch. 20 - Enolates: Carbonyl Addition and Substitution13
- Ch. 21 - Conjugated Systems I: Stability and Addition Reactions56
- Ch. 22 - Conjugated Systems II: Pericyclic Reactions54
- Ch. 23 - Benzene I: Aromatic Stability and Substitution Reactions64
- Ch. 24 - Benzene II: Reactions Influenced by the Aromatic Ring62
- Ch. 25 - Amines: Structure, Reactions, and Synthesis27
- Ch. 26 - Amino Acids, Proteins, and Peptide Synthesis9
- Ch. 27 - Carbohydrates, Nucleic Acids, and Lipids54
Mullins1st EditionOrganic Chemistry: A Learner Centered ApproachISBN: 9780137566471Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 3, Problem 16b
Provide an arrow-pushing mechanism for the following hypothetical acid half-reactions. [These are only intended to help you learn about arrow pushing in acid–base reactions.]
(b) 
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Identify the acid and conjugate base in the reaction. The molecule on the left with the protonated oxygen (O⁺) is the acid, and the molecule on the right with the neutral oxygen is the conjugate base.
Step 2: Recognize the key bond-breaking event. The O-H bond in the acid will break, resulting in the release of a proton (H⁺). This is an acid dissociation reaction.
Step 3: Use curved arrows to show electron movement. Draw a curved arrow starting from the lone pair on the oxygen atom and pointing toward the bond between oxygen and hydrogen. This indicates that the lone pair is forming a double bond with the carbon, while the O-H bond is breaking.
Step 4: Show the formation of the conjugate base. After the O-H bond breaks, the oxygen atom becomes neutral, and the proton (H⁺) is released as a free ion.
Step 5: Verify the charge balance. Ensure that the charge is conserved in the reaction. The acid starts with a positive charge (O⁺), and after dissociation, the conjugate base is neutral, while the released proton carries a positive charge.
Verified video answer for a similar problem:
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
1mWas this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Acid-Base Reactions
Acid-base reactions involve the transfer of protons (H+) between species. In organic chemistry, acids are proton donors, while bases are proton acceptors. Understanding the role of acids and bases is crucial for predicting the direction of the reaction and the stability of the resulting species.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:49
The Lewis definition of acids and bases.
Arrow-Pushing Mechanism
The arrow-pushing mechanism is a method used to illustrate the movement of electrons during chemical reactions. Curved arrows represent the flow of electron pairs, indicating bond formation and breaking. This technique helps visualize the stepwise process of reactions, particularly in acid-base chemistry, where proton transfers are involved.
Recommended video:
Guided course
04:32General Mechanism
Resonance Structures
Resonance structures are different ways of drawing the same molecule that illustrate the delocalization of electrons. In acid-base reactions, resonance can stabilize charged intermediates, influencing the reaction pathway and the stability of products. Recognizing resonance is essential for predicting the behavior of reactive intermediates in organic reactions.
Recommended video:
Guided course
03:04Drawing Resonance Structures
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Provide an arrow-pushing mechanism for the following acid–base reactions.
(c)
1630
views
Textbook Question
Based on the one species that is identified for you, label the remaining molecules as acid, base, conjugate acid, or conjugate base.
(b)
1193
views
Textbook Question
Provide an arrow-pushing mechanism for the following hypothetical base half-reactions.
(c)
1169
views
Textbook Question
Based on the one species that is identified for you, label the remaining molecules as acid, base, conjugate acid, or conjugate base.
(c)
1105
views
Textbook Question
Provide an arrow-pushing mechanism for the following hypothetical acid half-reactions. [These are only intended to help you learn about arrow pushing in acid–base reactions.]
(a)
1018
views