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

7701 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

You have 3.51g of hydrated zinc sulphate. You heat up the zinc sulphate until all the water has evaporated from it. The weight after heating is 1.97g. Find how many H2O molecules per zinc sulphate molecule there are in the hydrated form of it.


What is the easiest way to calculate E cell values?


What is enthalpy?


What are Van Der Waals dispersion forces?


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