page_title: Steric effects
section_title: Significance and applications
hierarchical_section_title: Steric effects / Significance and applications
caption_attribution_description: model of tri(terbutyl)amine
context_page_description: Steric effects are nonbonding interactions that influence the shape and reactivity of ions and molecules. Steric effects complement electronic effects, which usually dictate shape and reactivity. Steric effects result from repulsive forces between overlapping electron clouds. Steric effects are widely exploited in applied and academic chemistry.
context_section_description: Steric effects are critical to chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmacology.  In organic chemistry, steric effects are nearly universal and affect the rates and activation energies of most chemical reactions to varying degrees. 
  In biochemistry, steric effects are often exploited in naturally occurring molecules such as enzymes, where the catalytic site may be buried within a large protein structure. In pharmacology, steric effects determine how and at what rate a drug will interact with its target bio-molecules.
caption: The steric effect of tri-(tert-butyl)amine makes electrophilic reactions, like forming the tetraalkylammonium cation, difficult. It is difficult for electrophiles to get close enough to allow attack by the lone pair of the nitrogen (nitrogen is shown in blue)
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