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Common Reaction Types

Explore CurlyArrows tutorials on the common types of reactions in organic chemistry — addition reactions, elimination reactions (E1, E2, E1cb), substitution reactions (SN1, SN2, SNAr), rearrangement reactions, oxidation-reduction, and decomposition. Includes reaction mechanisms and subtypes with examples.

10 resources 3 content types Updated June 2026

Chemistry Glossary

A rule stating that an elimination reaction will give as the major product the most stable alkene, that is, the alkene with the most highly substituted double bond.

The meta directors are a class of atoms or a group of atoms that, when attached to an aromatic ring, render it with the ability to direct an incoming

An acyl group is a general way of referring to an R’-C=O unit that forms the core of compounds like aldehydes, ketones, carboxy

Comparison

Article

Oxidation-Reduction Reaction in Organic versus Inorganic Chemistry

Inorganic chemistry describes oxidation in two ways.

In substitution reactions, an atom or group of atoms is displaced and replaced by another atom or group of atoms. The displaced atom is called the leaving group.

Elimination reaction involves the loss of two groups and the formation of a new bond.

A decomposition reaction breaks down the substrate into two or more smaller, simpler molecules.

An atom or group of atoms migrate from one position to another; such reactions are rearrangement reactions.

Two molecules combine in an addition reaction to form a single addition product (an adduct). The addition occurs in unsaturated molecules of alkenes (C=C), alkynes (C≡C), carbonyls (C=O), and imines (C=N). There are four mechanisms in addition type of reactions- Electrophilic addition, Nucleophilic addition, Free radical addition and Simultaneous addition (Pericyclic).