Draw the Major Product of This Reaction: Ignore Inorganic Byproducts (Using the

Tag)

Introduction

In organic chemistry, reactions are chemical processes that transform reactants into products. The major product of a reaction is the product that is formed in the greatest amount. Inorganic byproducts are products that are not part of the main reaction pathway. They are often formed in small amounts and do not affect the outcome of the reaction.

Drawing the Major Product

To draw the major product of a reaction, you need to:

1. Identify the functional groups of the reactants.
2. Determine the type of reaction that is taking place.
3. Apply the appropriate reaction mechanism to the reactants.
4. Draw the product(s) of the reaction.

Example

Let's consider the following reaction:

CH3CH2Br + NaOH →

The reactants are CH3CH2Br (bromoethane) and NaOH (sodium hydroxide). The functional group of bromoethane is the bromine atom. The functional group of sodium hydroxide is the hydroxyl group. The type of reaction that is taking place is a nucleophilic substitution reaction. In this type of reaction, a nucleophile (NaOH) attacks an electrophile (CH3CH2Br) and replaces a leaving group (Br).

The reaction mechanism for this reaction is as follows:

1. The nucleophile (NaOH) attacks the electrophile (CH3CH2Br) at the carbon atom that is bonded to the bromine atom.
2. The bromine atom leaves the molecule as a bromide ion (Br-).
3. The nucleophile (NaOH) forms a bond with the carbon atom that was previously bonded to the bromine atom.

The product of this reaction is ethanol (CH3CH2OH).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When drawing the major product of a reaction, it is important to avoid the following common mistakes:

• Forgetting to include all of the atoms in the product. Make sure to include all of the atoms that were present in the reactants.
• Drawing the wrong functional group. Identify the functional groups of the reactants and make sure that the product has the correct functional group.
• Applying the wrong reaction mechanism. Choose the reaction mechanism that is appropriate for the type of reaction that is taking place.

How to Step-by-Step Approach

To draw the major product of a reaction, you can follow these steps:

1. Identify the functional groups of the reactants.
2. Determine the type of reaction that is taking place.
3. Apply the appropriate reaction mechanism to the reactants.
4. Draw the product(s) of the reaction.
5. Check your work to make sure that you have included all of the atoms in the product and that the product has the correct functional group.

Conclusion

Drawing the major product of a reaction is an important skill in organic chemistry. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can draw the major product of any reaction with confidence.

Additional Resources

• Organic Chemistry Portal
• ChemDraw
• ACD/Labs

Keywords

• Organic chemistry
• Reaction
• Product
• Inorganic byproduct
• Functional group
• Reaction mechanism