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Chapter 5: Q14P (page 197)

Question: Identify the nucleophile and the electrophile in the following acid–base reactions:

Short Answer

Expert verified

AlCl3is an electrophileand NH3 is a nucleophile.

The H+ of HBr is the electrophile and OH- is the nucleophile.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Electrophiles

An electrophile is a species that lacks electrons.

"Electrophile" literally translates to "electron loving" (phile is the Greek suffix for "loving"). An electrophile is someone who seeks out a pair of electrons. Electrophiles are easily identifiable because they have a positive charge, a partial positive charge, or an incomplete octet that can accept electrons.

  • AlCl3 is an electrophile because it has an incomplete octet.
  • H+is an electrophile because it has a positive charge.
02

Definition of Nucleophiles

A nucleophile is an electron-rich species.

A nucleophile is a non-hydrogen atom that bonds to an electron donor (having an electron pair available for bonding). A base is a hydrogen-bonding electron donor. The alterations that occur when bases or nucleophiles interact are extensive and diverse.

The following compounds are nucleophiles because-

  • NH3and OH- are nucleophiles because they have a pair of electrons to share.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Draw curved arrows to show the movement of the electrons that result in formation of the given product(s).

Draw the Skeletal structure for each of the following:

a. (Z)-1,3,5-tribromo-2-pentene

b. (Z)-3-methyl-2-heptene

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e. 1,2-dimethylcyclopentene

f. diallyl amine

Draw curved arrows to show the movement of the electrons that result in formation of the given product(s).

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Which bond is stronger? Briefly explain why.
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