What is a difference between a nucleophile and a base in organic chemistry?

A nucleophile and a base are both nucleophilic that means they both have afinity for a electron poor target. Both nucleophile and base are electron rich, often have lone pair of electrons such as Oxygen and Nitrogen.

A nucleophile usually attacks electron poor atom, for example carbonyle atom, forms a new bond and forces another to bond to break, simply pushes out a leaving group. Typical nucleophile could be alcohol. On the other hand, base attacks an electron poor atom such as Hydrogen and binds with it, therefore takes it from the molecule that forms a carbanion. A typical base is for example triethylamine. 

GS
Answered by Gabriela S. Chemistry tutor

7796 Views

See similar Chemistry IB tutors

Related Chemistry IB answers

All answers ▸

Identify and explain the trend in atomic radius across a period


2HCl (aq)+CaCO3 (s)->H20(l)+CaCl2(aq)+CO2(g). If using 40cm^3 of 2.5mol.dm^-3 Hcl and 5.67g of CaCO3, determine the limiting reagent and how much CO2(g) could be theoretically produced by this reaction.


Butan-2-ol cannot be directly converted to 1,2-dibromobutane. The conversion can be carried out in two stages by first converting butan-2-ol into X, which is then reacted with bromine.(continued in answers)


What orbital hybridisation?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning