What Are the Common Solvents Used in Chemical Reactions and Why?

[jd12345]

I'm having trouble to understand which type of solvents are used in specific reactions

When do you use polar aprotic solvents, polar protic solvents etc? And what makes DMSO, DMF , ether popular solvents?

 

[chemisttree]

There are entire chapters dealing with just these questions. You should be more specific.

 

[jd12345]

Well my book didnt deal with a chapter specificly for solvents.
But okay i got some information from wikipedia - anyways main doubt: why do we use polar protic solvent forSN1 reaction and polar aprotic for SN2 reactions?

 

[chemisttree]

A simple discussion regarding Sn1 solvent. http://www.organicchemistryreview.com/sn1.html
And for Sn2. http://web1.uct.usm.maine.edu/~Newton/Chy251_253/Lectures/Sn2Solvents/Sn2SolventsFS.html

 

[jd12345]

Okay thank you but one question-polar aprotic solvents also solvate the ions right? But not as good as protic solvent

 

[chemisttree]

Right.