Chemistry
The Role of Solvents in SN1 and SN2 Reactions
Quick fact
Polar aprotic solvents can make SN2 reactions up to a million times faster than protic solvents by 'unleashing' the nucleophile.
Why this is interesting
Why does the same reaction sometimes take the fast lane and sometimes the slow lane, just by changing the solvent? The solvent is not a bystander—it can decide which mechanism wins.