unimolecular

(adjective)

Involving a single molecule.

Related Terms

  • molecularity
  • bimolecular
  • elementary step

Examples of unimolecular in the following topics:

  • Elimination

    • Like nucleophilic substitution, it can occur via unimolecular or bimolecular mechanisms.
    • A common example of elimination is the dehydration reaction, which occurs in a unimolecular process:
    • In unimolecular elimination (E1), a leaving group first detaches itself from a carbon atom, leaving behind a carbocation.
  • Molecularity

    • If a single species makes up the transition state, the reaction would be called unimolecular.
  • Other Reactions

  • Nucleophilic Substitution

    • This will be explained further in the detailed sections on unimolecular and bimolecular forms of nucleophilic substitution.
    • In unimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN1), a leaving group is replaced by a nucleophile in a two-step process.
  • Rate Laws for Elementary Steps

  • First-Order Reactions

    • As such, a first-order reaction is sometimes referred to as a unimolecular reaction.
  • Elimination Reactions of Alcohols

  • Oxidation States of Nitrogen

    • Amine oxides are not the only functions that undergo a unimolecular syn-elimination on heating.
  • Alkene Isomerization

    • Unlike the previously described unimolecular isomerizations, this compound is formed by a bimolecular reaction between an electronically excited stilbene and a ground state stilbene molecule.
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