Question

Cyanide ion acts as an ambident nucleophile. From which end does it act as a stronger nucleophile in the aqueous medium?

• A. It has the same strength from both the ends
• B. It depends on the nature of the alkyl halide
• C. It acts as a stronger nucleophile from the carbon end
• D. It acts as a stronger nucleophile from the nitrogen end

Answer 1

The correct option is C

It acts as a stronger nucleophile from the carbon end

Explanation for the correct Option:

Option(C): It acts as a stronger nucleophile from the carbon end

• An ambident nucleophile is known as a nucleophile that tends to share electrons from two or more than two sites in the ion to form a bond.
• In the case of the Cyanide ion, the 2 atoms that can share electrons and form bonds are $C$and $N$.
• Here, Cyanide forms a bond with the Alkyl group in the Alkyl halide replacing the Halogen atom present.
• For the formation of this type of bond, the Cyanide ion has to attack from the Carbon end as the $C-C$ bond is much stronger than the bond.

Explanation for the incorrect Option:

Option(A):It has the same strength from both the ends

• Cyanide ions act as a stronger nucleophile in the aqueous medium only from the carbon end and not from both ends.
• Hence, the given option is an incorrect one.

Option(B): It depends on the nature of the Alkyl halide.

• Cyanide ion act as a stronger nucleophile in the aqueous medium, which does not depends on the nature of the Alkyl halide.
• Thus the given option does not coincide with the correct concept.

Option(D):It acts as a stronger nucleophile from the Nitrogen end

• Cyanide ion does not act as a stronger nucleophile in the aqueous medium from the Nitrogen end but from the Carbon end.
• Thus the given option does not coincide the correct concept.

Hence, Cyanide ion act as a stronger nucleophile in the aqueous medium from the Carbon end.