Question: what is the difference between sn1 sn2 e1 and e2 reactions?
Answer: The “big barrier” to the SN2 reaction is steric hindrance. The rate of SN2 reactions goes primary > secondary > tertiary. The “big barrier” to the SN1 and E1 reactions is carbocation stability. ... The E2 reaction has no “big barrier”, per se (although later we will have to worry about the stereochemistry)