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Chemistry LibreTexts

Nucleophilic Atom

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A nucleophilic atom is an electron-rich atom in a molecule or ion. Use the following generalizations to identify the most common types of electron-rich atoms.

1. An atom bearing one or more lone pairs but not a formal positive charge is electron-rich.

eg. 1:

nucleophilicatom1.png

eg. 2:

nucleophilicatom2.png

2. A formally neutral atom bearing a partial negative charge is electron-rich.

eg. 1:

nucleophilicatom3.png

eg. 2:

nucleophilicatom4.png

3. A carbon atom not bearing a formal or partial positive charge and multiple-bonded to another carbon atom is electron-rich.

eg. 1:

nucleophilicatom5.png

eg. 2:

nucleophilicatom6.png

see also electrophilic atom, nucleophile, electrophile


This page titled Nucleophilic Atom is shared under a All Rights Reserved (used with permission) license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gamini Gunawardena via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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