The Effect of Increasing the Steric Effect of a ?-Carbon on Reaction Rate: An Energy Profile Analysis,

The Effect of Increasing the Steric Effect of a ?-Carbon on Reaction Rate: An Energy Profile Analysis

The steric effect of a ?-carbon is the degree to which the relative size and shape of the molecule can affect the reaction rate. In organic chemistry, the steric effect of a ?-carbon is often used to determine the reactivity of a compound. By increasing the steric effect of a ?-carbon, the reaction rate can be significantly altered (Cheng,2019). This change in reaction rate can be illustrated through an energy profile. An energy profile is a graphical representation of the energy states of a reaction throughout the course of the reaction. In order to better understand the effect of increasing the steric effect of a ?-carbon on reaction rate, an energy profile analysis will be conducted. The energy profile analysis will begin with the reactants. The reactants start at the highest energy state and will move to the transition state, which represents the highest energy barrier of the reaction. As the reaction progresses, the reactants will move to the product state, which is the lowest energy state of the reaction (Stoltzfus-Dueck, 2016). The reaction rate is determined by the difference between the energy of the reactants and the transition state. If the steric effect of the ?-carbon is increased, the energy barrier between the reactants and the transition state will also increase. This increase in the energy barrier will result in a decrease in reaction rate. Cont…