What is a simple definition of elimination reaction E1 and E2 for organic chemistry?
In an elimination reaction, an alkene or alkyne is the product. In a substitution reaction, the nucleophile becomes attached to the product. An elimination is the opposite of an addition reaction and a substitution is a replacement reaction. If the slow step in the formation of the elimination product only depends on the concentration of the substrate, then the reaction is E1. If the slow step in the formation of the elimination product depends on the collision of the base and the substrate, then the reaction is an E2 elimination. In an E2 reaction increasing the concentration of either or both of the base or substrate will increase the number of collisions and thus the rate.
