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Discussion:
The performed experimentation resulted in only 0.027g of dibromocholesterol collected as the product, while the theoretical yield was calculated to be 0.2543g. The percent yield calculated was therefore extremely low, at 10.6%. The low experimental yield is likely due to the age of the bromine mixture used; bromine escapes from mixture as a gas, so there may not have been enough bromine used in experimentation to react as anticipated.
The acetic acid provides a polar, protic solvent for the reaction to occur in. This helps to stabilize the carbocation(cholesterol). This speeds up an assists the reaction. For more information you can read the Wikipedia page on SN1 reactions, or do other research on SN1.Discussion:
The performed experimentation resulted in only 0.027g of dibromocholesterol collected as the product, while the theoretical yield was calculated to be 0.2543g. The percent yield calculated was therefore extremely low, at 10.6%. The low experimental yield is likely due to the age of the bromine mixture used; bromine escapes from mixture as a gas, so there may not have been enough bromine used in experimentation to react as anticipated.
The acetic acid provides a polar, protic solvent for the reaction to occur in. This helps to stabilize the carbocation(cholesterol). This speeds up an assists the reaction. For more information you can read the Wikipedia page on SN1 reactions, or do other research on SN1.