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Glite Dictionary
elimination reaction

elimination reaction

6.9
A chemical reaction in which one molecule breaks into two smaller molecules by losing atoms or small groups
  • noun
  • /ɪˌlɪməˈneɪʃən ˈriːækʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : reacción de eliminación
  • Chemists used an elimination reaction to convert the alcohol into an alkene.

Examples

  • The elimination reaction produced two distinct compounds.

  • Understanding the mechanism of an elimination reaction is crucial in organic synthesis.

  • An elimination reaction often produces an alkene and a small molecule such as water or hydrogen halide.

  • An elimination reaction occurs when a molecule loses atoms.

  • In an elimination reaction, water is removed from the reactants to form an alkene.

  • The elimination reaction of the alcohol produced an important product used in industry.

  • Sodium hydroxide is often used to facilitate the elimination reaction in organic synthesis.

Synonyms

chemical decomposition reaction
vselimination reaction
  • Specialized
4.3

A chemical reaction where one compound breaks into two or more different substances

focuses on removing atoms or groups during that breakdown
decomposition reaction
vselimination reaction
  • Specialized
6.3

A reaction where one compound breaks into two or more simpler substances

produces different molecules often by removing atoms or groups

Antonyms

combination of
356 1.8

The joining of two or more things

Surface Forms

elimination reaction singular
elimination reactions plural

Morphology

elimination + reaction

The noun phrase transparently combines 'elimination' (removal) and 'reaction' (chemical process), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the core idea that it is a chemical process involving removal. However, the precise technical meaning—the mechanistic detail that a single molecule yields distinct products by loss of atoms or groups—is domain-specific and not fully predictable from the constituents, so full understanding requires specialized knowledge.

Etymology

The term elimination reaction comes from a simple picture: one molecule 'loses' a small part like water and becomes a new, simpler molecule. Elimination means 'removal' and reaction is a 'chemical change', so the name tells you the molecule loses parts during the change.