Episode 5 — Matter & Materials - Organic Reactions

Elimination Reactions

Learners will be able to:

• Identify the characteristics of an elimination reaction in terms of reactant and product molecules. • Describe the formation of a double or triple bond between two carbons during an elimination reaction. • Apply Zaitsev's rule to determine the major product in dehydrohalogenation reactions, including identifying the carbon with fewer hydrogens that donates its hydrogen. • Explain the role of a strong base catalyst in dehydrohalogenation reactions and the importance of avoiding water as a by-product. • Calculate the number of carbons and hydrogens in reactants and products to determine the structure of an unknown molecule, such as compound Y in cracking reactions.