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

7692 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Why can Cyclohexene react with Bromine but Benzene cannot?


what is entropy in terms of disorder?


Aminoethane can be prepared by a reduction reaction. Identify a starting compound that can be used to prepare aminoethane by reduction, give the necessary reagent and write an equation for the reaction.


Draw the mechanism for the reaction of an acid chloride with an alcohol to form an ester


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