MCAT

anuradharo8690 · Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Posts: 4

I was wondering if it is safe to say that the MCAT won't have an alkene based passage similar to this passage? I have looked up the official list of things to know for Orgo, but I wanted to double check, just a bit worried that I missed something since it was part of this practice test. Thanks!

mcat_premed3832 · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 413

It is possible to have a passage that includes alkenes but the AAMC has promised that if that were the case, then the answers could be determined based on information provided in the passage.

Question 48, for example, is not based on previous knowledge of alkenes.

msamadia · Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 13

Hi,

It made sense that it was elimination and strong base... but i saw that it was with a protic solvent so i put down E1.

msamadia · Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 13

Also confused about answer:
I was reading on Wiki that E2 rxns are second order.

mcat_premed3832 · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 413

Note that acid was only used in Experiment 3.

Ethanol is the solvent in Experiment 1. Note that ethanol is the solvent for the E2 reaction in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elimination_reaction

Also, it is a give away that in the passage (as happens from time to time on the real MCAT), they will say that it is first order with respect to each of 2 reactants which means that it is a 2nd order reaction. You have no choice but to choose E2 over E1.

And finally, the "2" in SN2 and in E2 stands for 2nd order.

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