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Home > Articles > Difference Between Electrophile and Nucleophile: Definitions, Examples, Characteristics, Substitution Reaction, and Uses
Difference Between Electrophile and Nucleophile: Definitions, Examples, Characteristics, Substitution Reaction, and Uses
Nikita Parmar
Updated on 30th May, 2023 , 5 min read
Difference Between Electrophile and Nucleophile Overview
The chemical compounds known as nucleophiles and electrophiles are those that take or give electrons to form new chemical bonds. A chemical bond is created when a nucleophile donates an electron pair. Any molecule, atom, or ion with insufficient electrons is known as an electrophile.
Difference Between Electrophile and Nucleophile Definitions
Definition of Electrophile
An electrophile can be any molecule, ion, or atom that is in some way electron-deficient. In other terms, an electrophile is a substance that assaults a molecule's negative charge or is attracted to electrons. They often have vacant orbitals and are positively charged or neutral species (electron-deficient compounds). Electrophiles are capable of accepting a few electrons. "Lewis acid" describes electrophiles.
Read more about the Lewis Base Examples.
Definition of Nucleophile
A reactant known as a nucleophile provides an electron pair in order to create a covalent bond. Typically, a nucleophile has a negative charge or is neutral with one or two donateable electrons. The word "nucleophile" is a combination of the terms "nucleo," which refers to the nucleus, and "philic," which means "loving."
Difference Between Electrophile and Nucleophile Examples
Examples of Electrophile
- A chloride ion, often known as Cl+, is an electrophile.
- An electrophile is also an ion of hydrogen.
- The p orbital of boron or boron trihydride (BH₃) is unoccupied. As a result, it may draw electrons. Therefore, it is electrophilic.
Examples of Nucleophile
The atomic form of chlorine (Cl) contains three lone electron pair configurations. So by attaching to them, it can give them to other electron-deficient atoms or molecules. Because of its electronegativity, OH- can function as an excellent nucleophile. A single electron pair exists in NH₃. It is a nucleophile as a result.
Characteristics of Electrophile and Nucleophile
The following are some of the characteristics of electrophile and nucleophile-
- Electrophiles and nucleophiles behave in ways that are contrary to those features.
- As we previously observed, an electrophile has a low electron density compared to a nucleophile's large electron density. Put simply-
- Although it is a little more sophisticated than that, this is a straightforward approach to thinking about the notion.
- Electrophiles are positively charged, completely or in part.
- Full or partial negative charges are present in nucleophiles.
- One can identify the locations of nucleophiles and electrophiles if you keep in mind that electrons are negatively charged.
- We will briefly examine how these species interact with one another to create a new link without delving too deeply into it.
Read more about the Electrochemical Series and Father of Chemistry.
Difference Between Electrophile and Nucleophile
The following table gives details about the Electrophile and Nucleophile-
|
Electrophile |
Nucleophile |
|
Electrophiles are also known as Lewis acids. |
Nucleophiles are referred to as Lewis bases. |
|
Because they may take electrons from the hydrogen atom of a specific molecule, they are also known as bronsted acids. |
Due to their ability to transfer electrons to the hydrogen atom of any specific molecule, they are also known as bronsted bases. |
|
Their synthesis involves both electrophilic addition and substitution processes. |
Nucleophilic additions and nucleophilic replacements are also feasible. |
|
They may have a positive charge or no charge at all. |
They are neutral or negatively charged. |
|
Carbocations are all electrophilic in nature. |
The only nucleophiles are carbanions. |
|
Hydronium ions H₃O+, boron trifluoride BF₃, F₂, and Cl₂are some examples. Molecules of halogen are effective electrophiles. |
Examples include the halogen anions I, Cl, OH, and CN, which are effective nucleophiles. An excellent nucleophile is an alkene. |
|
They are lacking in electrons. |
They possess too many electrons. |
|
They are capable of accepting electron pairs to create covalent-style chemical connections. |
They frequently give electron pairs to create covalent bonds and other types of chemical connections. |
|
They frequently engage in electrophilic reactions and assault the substrate's nucleophilic core. |
They frequently initiate nucleophilic reactions and assault the substrate's electrophilic core. |
Nucleophilic and Electrophilic Substitution Reaction
It's possible that another molecule is already bonded to the positive region of one. Attacking the primary chemical and replacing the preexisting electron-draining compound with one or more electron-draining compounds. This kind of reaction is known as a nucleophilic substitution reaction. For Example:- The CH₃positive region already has a Br connected to it in the case of CH₃Br.This chemical loses one of its components when it interacts with CN-. The novel substance is given the designation CH₃CNas a result. An electrophile substitutes an attached electrophile on the target molecule during an electrophilic substitution process. The H+ atom linked to the benzene ring may be replaced by an electrophile.
Read more about the Named Reactions.
Uses of Electrophile and Nucleophile
The following are some of the uses of electrophiles and nucleophiles-
- All chemical reactions in chemistry are built on them.
- Covalent bonds between various elements and compounds are formed by the action of electrophiles and nucleophiles.
- These species participate in the addition and substitution processes.
- They support the various chemical processes' reaction mechanisms.
- Typically, electrophiles absorb electrons from nucleophiles to create a connection.
Conclusion
Chemical compounds known as nucleophiles and electrophiles have the ability to either receive or donate electron pairs to create chemical bonds similar to covalent bonds. "Nucleus loving" compounds are known as nucleophiles, and they may contribute or donate electron pairs to other molecules to create chemical bonds. Lewis bases in general are nucleophiles because they donate electrons. A bronsted base is created when nucleophiles give electrons to a proton. The ability to accept electron pairs to form chemical bonds is exhibited by electrophiles, or "electron-loving" substances. Since they can receive electrons, they are Lewis acids. A material becomes a Bronsted acid when an electrophile receives electrons at the hydrogen atom.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Give some examples of electrophiles.
Ans. Carbocations of methyl and ethyl are some examples of electrophiles.
Are groups that donate electrons nucleophiles?
Ans. Yes. Nucleophiles can contribute to that free electronic pair since they have lone pairs of electrons. They’re referred to as electron-rich.
What is an electrophile?
Ans. Electrophiles are creatures that lack electrons but can receive them. These are Lewis acids.
Cite several nucleophiles as examples.
Ans. The chloride ion, and methyl carbanion are examples of nucleophiles.
Describe nucleophiles.
Ans. Nucleophiles are organisms that give off electrons and are electron-rich. The bases for Lewis are these.