Organic Chemistry Acid Base Reactions and Key Pka Values for Important Functional Groups
yuanyang5
Sep 26
1 min read
Acid base chemistry is the quiet engine behind organic reactions. Before a nucleophile attacks, before a leaving group leaves, before a carbon-carbon bond forms, a proton often moves first. If that proton transfer is favorable, the rest of the mechanism may work. If it is not, the reaction may stall.
The best shortcut for predicting these moves is pKa. A pKa value tells how strongly a compound wants to give up a proton. Low pKa means a strong acid. High pKa means a weak acid. Once that idea clicks, many organic mechanisms become much easier to read.
This guide explains how organic acid base reactions work, how to use pKa values, and which pKa values matter most for common functional groups.
Comments