BRAINCAKEElectrophile
An electrophile is an electron pair acceptor. The name means 'electron loving': electrophiles are attracted to regions of high electron density, and they form a new covalent bond by accepting a pair of electrons from the species they attack.
Electrophiles are usually either positive ions or molecules containing an atom with a partial positive charge (δ+). Examples include:
• H+ ions
• the nitronium ion, NO2+
• the H atom of HBr, which is δ+ because bromine is more electronegative than hydrogen
• a bromine molecule, Br2, once it has been polarised
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Key terms in this lesson
- heterolytic fission
- The breaking of a covalent bond in which one atom takes both electrons, forming a positive and a negative ion.
More in Alkenes
- Hydrogenation
- Halogenation
- Hydration
- Addition of Hydrogen Halides
- Nucleophile
- Electrophilic Addition Mechanism
- Electrophilic Addition of Hydrogen Halides
- Unsymmetrical Molecules
All 19 lessons in Alkenes · All Edexcel AS-level Chemistry topics