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Homework Statement
How do sterics affect basicity?
Homework Equations
Sterics has to do with kinetics.
Basicity is a thermodynamic property.
Nucleophilicity is a kinetic property.
The Attempt at a Solution
So is the answer "sterics don't affect basicity"?
I can't see why sterics would affect basicity. Sure, steric hindrance might make things harder for the hydrogen proton to reach the site of basicity. But thermo is just about the beginning and end on the energy coordinate diagram. We don't care if it takes a trillion years for the hydrogen proton to reach the site of basicity. Time doesn't affect basicity. Time affects nucleophilicity.
What do you think? Is this a trick question?