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Energy Diagram
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics / Energy Diagram / Problem 5

The hydride ion affinity (HIA) is a measure of carbocation stability. The difference in HIA for a secondary allylic carbocation and a tertiary allylic carbocation is 12 kcal/mol. Assuming that this is also the difference in the energies of the transition state for the carbocation formations at 298 K, estimate the rate difference.

Energy diagram showing the energy difference of 12 kcal/mol for carbocation formation.

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