Why does the rate of the E1 reaction depend only on the substrate?
1 Answer
Step 1 is the rate determining step (slow step) and therefore, we have only one reactant which is
Explanation:
The elimination reaction E1 from its name, the 1 means that it is a unimolecular reaction.
E1 reactions happen in two consecutive steps:
Step 1: Formation of the carbocation (
Step 2: Attack of the nucleophile.
Since the first step is bond breaking (needs energy) and the second step is bond formation (releases energy), therefore, step 1 is the rate determining step (slow step) and therefore, we have only one reactant which is
Here is a video about E1 and E2.