Free interactive chemistry · SIM-ORG-SN1-001
SN1 via carbocation
The SN1 mechanism: the leaving group goes first, making a flat carbocation, then the nucleophile adds.
Open the interactive simulation →How to use this simulation
- Press “Play whole mechanism” or step through with “Next step”.
- Watch the flat carbocation form.
- Compare the energy profile with SN2: two humps instead of one.
What to notice
- The slow step involves only the substrate: rate = k[substrate].
- The nucleophile can attack either face, so a chiral centre gives a racemic mixture.
Try this
Which is the rate-determining step? Find it on the energy profile.
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