can someone explain the difference to me please and common reagents/ rxns for each that i will most likely see on the final.
these confuse the hell out of me... :(

ok

It is about how they attack and where the new group is added or removed.... all about electron flow... memorize pKa's of functional groups and the rest will come a lot easier

Just google or read the text book.

Look at the reaction mechanism in a step by step process.
Probably better to look at class notes since the books may skip a step or so 2 at once.

E is elimination
S is substitution

E reactions eliminate
S reactions substitute the functional groups between the 2 reactive species

The 2 is more detail on the way that process happens which is why you should look at the step by step mechanism


e/ oh damn these are old posts oops...

This post was edited by Ramy on Jan 9 2016 10:04am