Steric hindrance Memes

Dating in the chemistry world is brutal. The woman (chloroethane, CH₃CH₂Cl) walks by the guy (tert-butoxide ion) who's clearly interested, but she's not having it. Then our man finds someone who understands his bulky structure issues - "steric hindrance" is chemistry-speak for "your molecular group is too damn big to react properly." It's basically the chemical version of "it's not you, it's your ridiculously large substituent groups blocking any chance of meaningful interaction." The struggle between functional groups is real.

The drama in this chemical relationship is off the charts! That hydroxide ion (HO - ) is desperately trying to perform an elimination reaction with tert-butyl chloride, but the bulky methyl groups are like bouncers at an exclusive molecular club saying "NOPE!" This is classic steric hindrance - where those chunky methyl groups physically block the nucleophile from attacking. The molecule's panicked "AAAAAAAAHHHHH" is basically what your organic chemistry professor hears internally whenever students mix up SN1 and SN2 reactions. Chemistry's version of "it's not you, it's my bulky molecular structure."

Organic chemists have strong opinions about their reaction products! This meme perfectly captures the Friedel-Craft's alkylation preference drama. The top panel shows rejection of the boring para-substituted product (4-methoxytoluene), while the bottom panel shows pure joy for that ortho-substituted rebel (2-methoxytoluene). Why? "Steric reasons, bro!" It's basically the chemistry equivalent of picking the unpredictable friend over the reliable one at parties. The methoxy group is like "move over, I need my space!" and the methyl group is like "challenge accepted!" The reaction is throwing shade at conventional wisdom, and every organic chemistry student who's struggled through these mechanisms is feeling this on a spiritual level right now.