Question

The formation of tert-butanol is described by the following chemical equation: Suppose a two-step mechanism is proposed for this reaction, beginning with this elementary reaction: Suppose also that the second step of the mechanism should be bimolecular. Suggest a reasonable second step. That is, write the balanced chemical equation of a bimolecular elementary reaction that would complete the proposed mechanism.

Answer 1

(CH3)3C^+ + OH^- --------> (CH3)3COH

Step-by-step explanation:

This reaction has to do with SN1 reaction of alkyl halides. Here tert-butanol is formed from tert-butyl bromide.

The first step in the reaction is the formation of a carbocation. This is a unimolecular reaction. The rate of reaction depends on the concentration of the alkyl halide. This is a slow step and thus the rate determining step in the mechanism.

(CH3)3CBr -------> (CH3)3C^+ + Br^-

The second step is a fast step and it completes the reaction mechanism. It is a bimolecular reaction as follows;

(CH3)3C^+ + OH^- --------> (CH3)3COH