What is an electrophile?
Q: What is an electrophile?
A: An electrophile is a molecule or an atom that is happy to take electrons from another one.
Q: Why are electrophiles also called Lewis acids?
A: Electrophiles are also called Lewis acids because they can accept pairs of electrons from other molecules.
Q: What are some examples of electrophiles?
A: Some examples of electrophiles are molecules where the atoms have a big difference in electronegativity, like HCl or a carbonyl, or also oxidizing agents.
Q: How do nucleophiles react with electrophiles?
A: Nucleophiles react with electrophiles by attacking them.
Q: What is a nucleophile?
A: A nucleophile is the opposite kind of molecule to an electrophile. It is a molecule or an atom that is happy to donate electrons.
Q: How do addition reactions occur between electrophiles and nucleophiles?
A: Addition reactions occur between electrophiles and nucleophiles when the nucleophile attacks the electrophile, forming a new bond.
Q: Can an electrophile have a negative charge?
A: An electrophile can have a positive charge, but it can also have a partial positive charge or no charge at all. The key characteristic is that it is willing to accept electrons.
