Substitution Reactions
Substitution reactions are a type of chemical reaction where one atom or group in a molecule is replaced by another atom or group. This process often occurs in organic chemistry, particularly with compounds like alkanes and aromatic compounds. The new atom or group can change the properties of the original molecule, leading to different chemical behaviors.
There are two main types of substitution reactions: nucleophilic substitution and electrophilic substitution. In nucleophilic substitution, a nucleophile attacks a positively charged or electron-deficient carbon atom, replacing a leaving group. In electrophilic substitution, an electrophile replaces a hydrogen atom in an aromatic ring, allowing for the introduction of new functional groups.