12.12 What are electrophiles and nucleophiles ? Explain with examples.
Electrophile- It is an electron deficient species, which seeking for an electron pair. This reagent takes away an electron pair. It is denoted as . For example, carbocationised neutral molecule having functional groups such as carbonyl group are an example of the electrophile.
A nucleophile is a reagent that brings an electron pair. In other words, it is nucleus- seeking reagent called nucleophile.
For examples- and carbanions () etc. Ammonia and water also act as a nucleophile due to the presence of lone pair of electron.