Answer to Question #102455 in Organic Chemistry for Megha Nautiyal

Question

How can you study the mechanism of the reaction by isotopic study? Explain it with
the help of suitable example.

Answer 1

Answer: Mechanism of reaction can be studied by isotopic effect. Chemical reaction involved in breaking of existing chemical bond and formation of new chemical bond.

As bond energy depends on type of isotopes present so rate of chemical reaction also differ.

If a chemical reaction involved breaking of C-H bond and it Mechanism can easily be probed by changing the isotope of H to D. So instead if we monitor rate C-D bond breaking then rate will be slowet.