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Organic reactions are classified as additions, substitutions and
so on. Each type by its nature has a higher or lower atom economy.
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Reaction Type
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Description
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Atom Economy
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Example
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Addition
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Different molecules join together to make a new substance
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100% as all reactant atoms end up in the product
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Manufacture of ethanol from ethene. Show
me
Click for more on the manufacture
of ethanol
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Condensation
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Two molecules join, with the production of a small molecule like water
or ammonia
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Always a little less than 100% as small molecules are produced, which
are usually waste.
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Manufacture of nylon 6,6 from an acid and an amine Show
me
Click for more on the manufacture of
nylon
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Elimination
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A group of atoms is removed from a molecule, usually leaving a double
or triple bond
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Generally poor because an additional product is always formed
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Making phenylethene for poly(phenylethene) production Show
me
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Rearrangement
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Atoms are rearranged to create a different substance with the same empirical
formula
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100% as the same atoms are present in the product as in the reactant
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Processing of fats to raise their melting point. Show
me
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Substitution
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A group of atoms on a molecule is replaced by a different group
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The group replaced creates a product too, but as this may vary considerably,
substitutions can be from fairly good to very poor
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