wiz-icon
MyQuestionIcon
MyQuestionIcon
1
You visited us 1 times! Enjoying our articles? Unlock Full Access!
Question

Is Chlorine a Good Nucleophile?


Open in App
Solution

  • Nucleophiles: Nucleophiles are basically electron-rich species having the ability to donate electron pairs.
  • Nucleophiles have the tendency to donate an electron pair, therefore, all nucleophiles are Lewis bases.
  • Such chemical elements can be attracted to the positive region of another compound or molecule resulting in chemical reactions and bond formation.

Chlorine: Chlorine is a chemical element with the symbol Cl and atomic number 17.

  • Halogen is the second lightest element and appears between fluorine and bromine in the periodic table.
  • Chlorine is a yellowish-green gas at room temperature.
  • So, Cl is a Chlorine atom with 17 electrons which have 2,8,7 as electronic configuration.
  • Since chlorine has 7 electrons, it has a vacancy for 1 electron, so it can act as an electrophile to complete its octet.
  • But on the other hand, it has 3 lone pairs which can be donated to those who lack electrons.
  • The atomic form of chlorine has only three pairs of electrons, so it can donate by binding to other electron-deficient atoms or molecules.
  • In Cl- form chlorine acts as a nucleophile and in Cl+ form as an electrophile.

Hence, Chlorine is a good nucleophile.


flag
Suggest Corrections
thumbs-up
2
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
similar_icon
Related Videos
thumbnail
lock
Boron
CHEMISTRY
Watch in App
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
CrossIcon