Chemotherapy and Reaction Mechanisms

Why was World War I sometimes called "The Chemist's War"?

• Because chemists developed new types of explosives.

• Because chemical warfare agents like phosgene and mustard gas were used.

• Because chemists were responsible for creating new food preservation methods.

• Because chemical reactions were used to purify water for soldiers.

What unexpected benefit of sulfur mustard was discovered after World War I?

• It could be used as a powerful disinfectant.

• It had properties that could stop cancer.

• It was an effective fertilizer for crops.

• It could be converted into a new type of fuel.

How do chemotherapy drugs inspired by mustard gas help treat cancer?

• They boost the body's immune system to fight cancer cells.

• They directly destroy healthy cells around the tumor.

• They prevent cancer cell DNA from replicating.

• They increase the oxygen supply to cancerous tissues.

What happens in a single displacement reaction in organic chemistry?

• Two molecules combine to form a larger molecule.

• One group replaces another group in a molecule.

• A molecule breaks down into two smaller molecules.

• Two molecules exchange parts to form two new molecules.

What is a key characteristic of an SN1 reaction mechanism?

• It involves a concerted process where bonds break and form at the same time.

• It forms a carbocation intermediate.

• The stereochemistry of the product is always inverted.

• The reaction rate depends on the concentration of both the substrate and the nucleophile.

Which statement accurately describes an SN2 reaction mechanism?

• It proceeds through a carbocation intermediate.

• The nucleophile attacks from the front side of the leaving group.

• Bonds break and form simultaneously in a single step.

• The stereochemistry of the product can be either the same or inverted.

Which type of substrate primarily undergoes an SN2 substitution mechanism?

• Tertiary

• Secondary

• Primary

• Quaternary

How does nitrogen mustard, used in chemotherapy, affect DNA?

• It strengthens the DNA strands, making them more resistant to damage.

• It prevents DNA from replicating by crosslinking its strands.

• It removes harmful mutations from the DNA sequence.

• It helps repair damaged DNA by adding new bases.