Question

Nucleophiles are ________ while electrophiles are _______.

• A. Lewis bases, Lewis acids
• B. Lewis acids, Lewis bases
• C. Bronsted acids, Bronsted bases
• D. Lewis acids, Bronsted bases

Answer 1

The correct option is A Lewis bases, Lewis acids

Nucleophile is a chemical species that donates an electron pair to an electrophile to form a chemical bond in relation to a reaction. All molecules or ions with a free pair of electrons or at least one pi bond can act as nucleophiles. Because nucleophiles donate electrons, they are by definition Lewis bases.

An electrophile is a reagent attracted to electrons. Electrophiles are positively charged or neutral species having vacant orbitals that are attracted to an electron rich centre. It participates in a chemical reaction by accepting an electron pair in order to bond to a nucleophile, they are by definition Lewis acids.