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From the following, choose the potential energy profile for an SN2 reaction:

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Correct Answer: A. A
An SN2 reaction is a concerted process and does not involve intermediates (ruling out profile C and D). Also, reaction transition states are higher energy than the starting material leaving profile A as the only option.
Recall that 2nd order reactions can be written of the type: rate = k[RX][Nucleophile] and so the total of the exponents = 2 (thus 2nd order overall = 1st order with respect to RX and 1st order with respect to the nucleophile).
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