BRAINCAKENucleophile
A nucleophile is an electron pair donor. The name means 'nucleus loving': nucleophiles are attracted to positive centres, such as a carbon atom carrying a partial positive charge (δ+) or a positive ion.
To donate a pair of electrons, a nucleophile must have a lone pair. It uses this lone pair to form a new covalent (dative) bond to the positive centre. Nucleophiles are either negative ions or neutral molecules with a lone pair. Common examples:
• hydroxide ion, :OH−
• cyanide ion, :CN−
• halide ions such as :Br−
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Key terms in this lesson
- carbocation
- A positively charged carbon ion formed when a carbon atom loses a share in a bonding pair of electrons.
More in Alkenes
- Halogenation
- Hydration
- Addition of Hydrogen Halides
- Electrophile
- Electrophilic Addition Mechanism
- Electrophilic Addition of Hydrogen Halides
- Unsymmetrical Molecules
- Addition Polymerisation
All 19 lessons in Alkenes · All Edexcel AS-level Chemistry topics