Question

a) What is difference between basicity and nucleophilicty? Discuss the structural features which affect the basicity of a molecule.



b) How can you study the mechanism of the reaction by isotopic study? Explain it with the help of suitable example.

Answer 1

Nucleophilicity is defined as the ability of a group with a lone pair of electrons to push another such group out of a carbon centre.(tendency to attack an electron deficient centre).

Basicity is defined as the ability of a group to combine with a proton. It is the ability of a group to donate a lone pair at an electron deficient centre.

The higher the electron affinity or core charge of an atom, the less likely it is to donate its electrons .