Is methyl electron donating or withdrawing?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether the methyl group is an electron donating or withdrawing group in the context of organic chemistry. We will analyze the electronic effects of the methyl group on adjacent substituents.
Answer
Electron donating
The final answer is electron donating.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is electron donating.
More Information
Methyl groups are considered electron donating due to the inductive effect of the hydrogen-carbon bonds in the methyl group. The low electronegativity of carbon allows it to push electron density away from itself.
Tips
A common mistake is assuming all groups attached to carbon atoms behave the same in different chemical contexts. Methyl groups may not be electron donating when attached to certain elements, like boron.
Sources
- A methyl group is an electron donor - chem.ucla.edu
- Why is a methyl group electron donating? - quora.com
- How come the methyl group (-CH3) is electron donating? - chemistry.stackexchange.com
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