How can I identify the nucleophile and the electrophile in the #AlCl_3 + NH_3 -> Cl_3Al^(-)NH_3^+# acid–base reaction?
1 Answer
To identify whether a compound is a nucleophile or an electrophile, you need to know what these two terms mean?
Let’s start with “nucleophiles” (from “nucleus loving”, or “positive-charge loving”). A nucleophile is a reactant that provides a pair of electrons to form a new covalent bond.
examples of nucleophiles are ammonia ( it has a lone pair of electron on its Nitrogen atom), negative ions like chloride, hydroxide ion, cyanide ion.
Now let’s talk about electrophiles (from “electron-loving”, or “negative-charge loving”). An electrophile is a species that accepts a pair of electrons to form a new covalent bond.
examples include Boron trifluoride, Aluminum chloride,Hydronium ion etc.
In Aluminum chloride the central Aluminum atom is in s