Definition

A type of chemical substance that is attracted to positively charged parts of molecules and can donate or share electrons with them.

Example

In a chemical reaction, the nucleophile attacks the electrophile to form a new bond.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a nucleophile?

Yeah, it's something to do with chemistry, right?

Exactly! It’s a substance that donates electrons in reactions.

That makes sense; it sounds really important in organic chemistry.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Nucleophile → It is formed from "nucleus" (from Latin *nucleus*, meaning kernel or core) and "-phile" (from Greek *philos*, meaning loving). The word describes a species that is 'loving' or attracted to the 'core' or nucleus of an atom, typically seeking to donate electrons in a chemical reaction.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'core' ('nucleus') that something is 'attracted to' ('-phile'). This helps you remember that a nucleophile is a substance that loves to interact with the nucleus of another atom.

Visually Confused Words