WBCS.LIVE practice question

The complete inversion of stereochemical configuration during an SN2 reaction is famously known as what?

Solve this multiple-choice question and check the correct answer with its explanation below.

Answer options

  1. Walden inversion
  2. Racemization
  3. Markovnikov addition
  4. Zaitsev elimination

Correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: Walden inversion

Explanation: āœ… Correct Answer: A) Walden inversion šŸ“š Explanation: In an SN2 (Bimolecular Nucleophilic Substitution) reaction, the incoming nucleophile aggressively attacks the electrophilic carbon from the side completely opposite to the leaving group. This "backside attack" forcefully flips the geometry of the molecule inside out, a process strictly known in organic chemistry as a Walden inversion.