What is nucleophile?

A nucleophile is a species which can donate a lone pair of electrons to an electron deficient species, known as an electrophile. By doing this, a chemical bond is formed.An example of a reaction involving a nucleophile would by nucleophilic substitution. As the nucleophile attacks to form a bond, a leaving group departs, with the breaking of a bond.Nucleophiles often have lone pairs or double bonds. Some good examples of nucleophiles are water, ammonia, the hydroxide ion and the thiocyanate ion.

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Answered by Claire S. Chemistry tutor

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