What is the Difference Between Nucleophile and Electrophile?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between nucleophiles and electrophiles lies in their electron-donating or electron-accepting characteristics. Here are the key differences between the two:
- Charge and Electron Deficiency:
- Electrophiles are electron-deficient species, either positively charged or having a vacancy in their valence shell. They act as electron acceptors.
- Nucleophiles are electron-rich species, either negatively charged or having lone pairs of electrons. They act as electron donors.
- Attraction:
- Electrophiles are attracted towards negative charges (electron-seeking).
- Nucleophiles are attracted towards positive charges (nucleus-seeking).
- Reactions:
- Electrophiles attack nucleophilic centers in a substrate, bringing about electrophilic reactions.
- Nucleophiles attack electrophilic centers in a substrate, bringing about nucleophilic reactions.
- Lewis Acid and Base:
- Electrophiles are electron pair acceptors, also known as Lewis acids.
- Nucleophiles are electron-pair donors, also known as Lewis bases.
Examples of electrophiles include H+, Br+, NO2+, BF3, and AlCl3. Examples of nucleophiles include OH-, Cl-, and CN-.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Nucleophile and Electrophile? Comparative Table: Nucleophile vs Electrophile
Comparative Table: Nucleophile vs Electrophile
Here is a table comparing the differences between nucleophiles and electrophiles:
Property | Nucleophile | Electrophile |
---|---|---|
Definition | A nucleophile is a chemical species that donates a pair of electrons to form a new covalent bond. | An electrophile is a chemical species that accepts a pair of electrons to form a new covalent bond. |
Charge | Nucleophiles are usually negatively charged or neutral with a lone pair of electrons. | Electrophiles are positively charged or neutral. |
Electron Deficiency | Nucleophiles have an electron-rich atom. | Electrophiles have an electron-deficient atom. |
Reactions | Nucleophiles undergo nucleophilic addition and nucleophilic substitution reactions. | Electrophiles undergo electrophilic addition and electrophilic substitution reactions. |
Examples | Some common nucleophiles include H2O, -OMe, and -OtBu. | Some common electrophiles include aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acid derivatives. |
In summary, nucleophiles are electron-rich species that donate electrons, while electrophiles are electron-deficient species that accept electrons. Both nucleophiles and electrophiles participate in various chemical reactions to form new covalent bonds.
Read more:
- Nucleophilic vs Electrophilic Addition
- Base vs Nucleophile
- Electrophilic vs Nucleophilic Substitution
- Nucleophilicity vs Basicity
- Electropositive vs Electronegative
- Electronegativity vs Polarity
- Electropositive vs Electronegative Radicals
- Free Radical Substitution vs Nucleophilic Substitution
- Electronegativity vs Electron Affinity
- Electrophoresis vs Dielectrophoresis
- Photocatalysis vs Electrocatalysis
- Ions vs Electrons
- Electronegativity vs Ionization Energy
- Nucleotide vs Nucleic Acid
- Proton vs Electron
- Electrofuge vs Nucleofuge
- Hydrophilic vs Hydrophobic
- Nucleotide vs Nucleoside
- Electrocyclic vs Cycloaddition Reaction