What's the difference between an electrophile and a nucleophile?

It's really useful to know that 'phile' means love.

Electrophiles 'love' negative charge - this means they are attracted to regions of negative charge. And as such they tend to be positively charged.

Similarily Nucleophiles 'love' positive charge, so they tend to be negatively charged and will seek out postively charged regions.

SM
Answered by Sophie M. Chemistry tutor

7595 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Devise a simple synthetic route to an amide from a carboxylic acid. Give a mechanism for the final step and explain why the reagents are not added 1:1 in the final step


Which compound has a higher boiling point and why: water (H2O) or methane (CH4)?


A chemist mixes together 0.450 mol N2 with 0.450 mol H2 in a sealed container. The mixture is heated and allowed to reach equilibrium. At equilibrium, the mixture contains 0.400 mol N2 and the total pressure is 500 kPa. Calculate Kp.


In order to find the [H+] ion content of H2SO4 (Sulphuric Acid), why must you divide by two after using the formula for pH calculation?


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