Bromo-2-Methylpropane Lab Report

Through this experiment, I determined the relative rates of reactions of several alkyl bromides under SN1 and SN2 conditions. Through careful analysis, I was able to determine the relative rates of reactions of several alkyl bromides. My results do not match my predictions. The differences between my predictions from the results I observed, for the NaI/acetone test, include: 2-Bromo-2-methylpropane was the third compound to react, where I had it as the first compound to react, and 1-Bromobutane was the first compound to react, where I had it as the third compound to react. The differences between my predictions from the results I observed, for the AgNO3/ethanol test, include: 1-Bromobutane was the first compound to react, where I had it as
the third compound to react, 2-Bromo-2-methylpropane was the second compound to react, where I had it as the first compound to react, and 2-Bromobutane was the third compound to react, where I had it as second compound to react. Source of error that could have led to the discrepancies between the predicted reactivities and the observed reactivities include: was getting the class of substrate confused. This error would affect the time and temperature of the compounds I had listed wrong by either letting the test tubes react longer and at a warmer temperature or letting the test tubes react for a shorter time and at room temperature. One way to eliminate this error would be to have a full understanding of what conditions for SN2 and SN1 reactions to occur.