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USNCO 2014 Q58 - comparing rate of SN1 vs SN2 reactions

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georgetian3:
The reaction between which pair of reactants occurs the fastest for [OH-] = 0.010 M?

(A) CH3CH2CH2CH2Cl + OH-
(B) (CH3)3CCl + OH-
(C) CH3CH2CH2CH2Br + OH-
(D) (CH3)3CBr + OH

First looking at the leaving group, Br- is a better leaving group than Cl-, hence options A) and B) were removed.

I then thought that, as OH- is a strong base and a strong nucleophile, the reaction should occur through SN2 pathway, which is fastest in primary alkyl halides, hence C)

However, the answers state D). Why would this be faster?

AWK:
Some compounds react through E1 pathway.

Babcock_Hall:
It may be that the problem is getting at the rate laws for SN1 vs. SN2.  The same logic holds for E1 vs. E2.

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