Electrophiles & Nucleophiles - Problem

Description:

Q. Classify the following ions/molecules as electrophile and nucleophile.

HS⁻,BF₃,C₂H₅O⁻,(CH₃)₃N:,Cl⁺,CH₃CO⁺,NH₂⁻,NO₂⁺

Explanation −

Electrophiles: Cl⁺,CH₃CO⁺,NO₂⁺,BF₃

Positively charged species with sextet configuration. Hence, they can accept an electron pair thereby behaving as electrophiles. BF₃ although neutral again has only 6 electrons in its valence shell and thus acts as an electrophile.

Nucleophiles: HS⁻,C₂H₅O⁻,NH₂⁻,(CH₃)₃N:

All these species have atleast one lone pair of electrons which can be donated to electrophilic species and hence these act as nucleophiles.