According to Saytzeff's rule, what characterizes the major product in an elimination reaction?

Saytzeff's rule identifies the characteristic of the major product in an elimination reaction by stating that the preferred product will be formed from the more substituted alkene. According to this rule, during an elimination reaction, when a hydrogen atom is removed from a carbon compound, the hydrogen is generally removed from the carbon atom that is already bonded to more hydrogen atoms, which is often a more substituted carbon.

This leads to the formation of a more stable alkene due to greater substitution, as more substituted alkenes are typically favored due to decreased steric hindrance and increased overlap of p-orbitals. Thus, the reaction tends to favor the carbon atom that is bonded to more hydrogen atoms losing one, which allows for the formation of a double bond with the adjacent carbon, resulting in a more stable alkene.

This justification aligns with the idea that the carbon atom losing a hydrogen is often the one that facilitates the formation of the major product according to Saytzeff's rule.