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Little help with organic chemistry

I am afraid I missed the lesson at school on electrophiles and nucleophiles, so am having some problems with a piece of homework on them.

There are just a few questions which I am having trouble with.

1) What are the features of an electrophile, and a nucleophile.

2) State and explain whether you would expect ammonia to be a strong or a weak nucleophile.

3) Would the ammonium ion, NH4+, act as a nucleophile, an electrophile, or neither? Give your reasons.

So sorry to be of a bother, but any help whatsoever would be massively appreciated!

Thank you VERY much.

Amrou
Reply 1
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fabbo
1) Electrophile = "electron lover" species which seeks negative centres and can accept a lone pair of electrons to form a covalent bond
Nucleophile = species which seeks out positive centres and can donate a lone pair of electrons to form a covalent bond

2) Strong nucleophile - has 3 bonded electrons but lone pair on Nitrogen is easily donated to form a covalent bond

3) Ammonium ion is positively charged so is attracted to negative centres, however there is no unbonded pair of electrons so a covalent bond can not form.
Thank you SO much for your help!

Amrou

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