How do you know if a reaction is going to be Sn1 or Sn2? Or E1 or E2?

Question

anonymous · Answer

If the instructions say this is a Sn1 or whatever I can carry out the mechanism. It is when it doesn't say anything that I struggle with choosing the correct method.

anonymous · Answer

I just started to learn about these types of mechanisms. Sn1 and E1 go through a carbocation

anonymous · Answer

Do I need to learn more about specific leaving groups to know when they will pop off by themselves or not??

kainui · Answer

Well it's something you'll learn the more you practice with it, but your general method should be to look for a good leaving group, find out if it's primary, secondary, or tertiary and if your catalyst/reactant is a strong base or nucleophile.

vincent-lyon.fr · Answer

Tertiary compounds undergo SN1 reactions because the carbocation is stabilized and so forms easily.

Elimination is usually obtained with KOH in ethanol (strong base) at higher temperature.