Analytical approximation to the local softness and hypersoftness and to their applications as reactivity indicators

Piotr Ordon1, Jarosław Zaklika2, Jerzy Hładyszowski3

  • 1Department of Physics and Biophysics, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, ul. Norwida 25, 50-373 Wrocław, Poland.

Related Concept Videos

Relative Reactivity of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives01:13

Relative Reactivity of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

Carboxylic acid derivatives such as acid halides, anhydrides, esters, and amides undergo nucleophilic acyl substitution reactions with varying degrees of reactivity.
A key factor in assessing the reactivity of the acid derivatives is the basicity of the substituent or the leaving group. The lower the basicity of the leaving group, the higher the reactivity of the derivative. The basicity of the leaving group follows this order:
Halide ions < Acyloxy ions < Alkoxy ions < Amine ions
2.9K
Weak Acid Solutions04:02

Weak Acid Solutions

Few compounds act as strong acids. A far greater number of compounds behave as weak acids and only partially react with water, leaving a large majority of dissolved molecules in their original form and generating a relatively small amount of hydronium ions. Weak acids are commonly encountered in nature, being the substances partly responsible for the tangy taste of citrus fruits, the stinging sensation of insect bites, and the unpleasant smells associated with body odor. A familiar example of a...
38.0K
The Small x Assumption02:20

The Small x Assumption

If a reaction has a small equilibrium constant, the equilibrium position favors the reactants. In such reactions, a negligible change in concentration may occur if the initial concentrations of reactants are high and the Kc value is small. In such circumstances, the equilibrium concentration is approximately equal to its initial concentration.  This estimation can be used to simplify the equilibrium calculations by assuming that some equilibrium concentrations are equal to the initial...
46.3K
IR Spectroscopy: Hooke's Law Approximation of Molecular Vibration01:16

IR Spectroscopy: Hooke's Law Approximation of Molecular Vibration

A covalently bonded heteronuclear diatomic molecule can be modeled as two vibrating masses connected by a spring. The vibrational frequency of the bond can be expressed using an equation derived from Hooke's law, which describes how the force applied to stretch or compress a spring is proportional to the displacement of the spring. In this case, the atoms behave like masses, and the bond acts like a spring.
According to Hooke's law, the vibrational frequency is directly proportional to...
1.4K
Relative Strengths of Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs02:29

Relative Strengths of Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs

Brønsted-Lowry acid-base chemistry is the transfer of protons; thus, logic suggests a relation between the relative strengths of conjugate acid-base pairs. The strength of an acid or base is quantified in its ionization constant, Ka or Kb, which represents the extent of the acid or base ionization reaction. For the conjugate acid-base pair HA / A−, the ionization equilibrium equations and ionization constant expressions are
45.9K
Thermodynamics: Activity Coefficient01:24

Thermodynamics: Activity Coefficient

Activity is the measure of the effective concentration of the species in solution. It can be expressed as the product of the molar concentration of the species and its activity coefficient. The activity coefficient is a dimensionless quantity and depends on the total ionic strength of the solution.
The activity coefficient is a measure of the deviation from ideal behavior. When the ionic strength of the solution is minimal, the activity coefficient of an ionic species is close to unity, making...
1.6K