Questions: Which step would most likely have the largest energy of activation? step 1 Step one Step two It cannot be determined from the information provided Step three

Solution Steps

The reaction consists of three steps:

• Step 1: Formation of a carbocation (B) from the alkyl chloride (A).
• Step 2: Nucleophilic attack by water on the carbocation (B) to form the protonated alcohol (C).
• Step 3: Deprotonation of the protonated alcohol (C) to form the final alcohol (D).

• Step 1: Formation of a carbocation is typically the rate-determining step in many reactions because it involves breaking a bond and forming a highly unstable intermediate.
• Step 2: Nucleophilic attack by water is generally fast because it involves the reaction of a nucleophile with a positively charged species.
• Step 3: Deprotonation is usually fast and has a low activation energy.

• Step 1: High activation energy due to the formation of a carbocation.
• Step 2: Lower activation energy as it involves a nucleophilic attack.
• Step 3: Lowest activation energy as it involves deprotonation.

Final Answer