Answer to Question #18833 in Organic Chemistry for Anissa

Question

In organic chemistry reactions we use a lot nucleophils and electrophils, what is the difference between them? and is there any compounds that can be nucleophils and electrophils at the same time?

Answer 1

• Nucleophile is a substance that seeks a positive center. Electrophiles seek negative centers which have extra electrons.

• A nucleophile can be any negative ion or anyneutral molecule that has at least one unshared electron pair. Carbocations and other, completely or partially, positive charged species can act as electrophiles.

• Nucleophile is a Lewis base, and an electrophile is a Lewis acid.

• In a reaction mechanism, arrows are always drawn to show the electron flow from a nucleophile to the electrophile.