The hydrogen atom abstraction step in the free radical chlorine of methane is exothermic. Use the Hammond Postulate to speculate on the extent of bond formation and bond cleavage in the transition state.

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Natalie Smalls · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : The exothermic nature of this step means that the energy of the transition state is closer to that of the step's reactants than to its products. Using the Hammond Postulate this means the transition state more closely resembles a chlorine radical than a carbon radical. The carbon-hydrogen bond has broken very little and the hydrogen-chlorine bond has formed very little in the transition state.

The hydrogen atom abstraction step in the free radical chlorine of methane is exothermic. Use the Hammond Postulate to speculate on the extent of bond formation and bond cleavage in the transition state.

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