1st order reactions and SN1 reactions

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SaintJude

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In Gen Chem, a first order reaction is one that depends on the concentration of only reactant. Other reactants can be present but won't affect the rate of product formation.

In Orgo, a SN1 reaction is a 2-step reaction that depends only on the concentration of the substrate.

Are all SN1 reactions then also "first-order reactions" by definition?

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In Gen Chem, a first order reaction is one that depends on the concentration of only reactant. Other reactants can be present but won't affect the rate of product formation.

In Orgo, a SN1 reaction is a 2-step reaction that depends only on the concentration of the substrate.

Are all SN1 reactions then also "first-order reactions" by definition?


Yes, you might want to look into what zero, first, second, etc order mean. It's something you should know long before you encounter organic reactions.

1st order (SN1, E1): Rate=k[substrate]
2nd order (SN2, E2): Rate=k[substrate][nucleophile]

I think the generic rate equation is rate=k[A]^a^b and the overall rate is a+b
 
The number of steps involved doesn't define the rate. It is what they find experimentally by altering concs that matters and that will give you the rate eq.
 
The number of steps involved doesn't define the rate. It is what they find experimentally by altering concs that matters and that will give you the rate eq.

plus it's the concentrations at the rate determining step
 
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