AICE Chemistry Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Test Prep

An electrophile is defined as an electron-deficient species that is capable of accepting electrons during a chemical reaction. Electrophiles are typically positively charged or neutral species with a strong affinity for electrons, which allows them to participate in various reactions, such as nucleophilic substitutions and additions. This electron deficiency can arise from the presence of electronegative atoms or groups attached to the electrophile, which withdraw electrons, thereby creating a partial positive charge and making the species attractive to electron-rich nucleophiles.

The concept of electrophiles is central in organic chemistry and is key to understanding reaction mechanisms. For instance, in a reaction involving a nucleophile attacking an electrophile, the nucleophile donates a pair of electrons to the electrophile, resulting in the formation of new bonds.

In contrast, electron-rich species that donate electrons are classified as nucleophiles, and a species that is stable and unreactive is not an electrophile but rather describes inert compounds. Lastly, while some electrophiles can carry a full positive charge, not all do; they can also be neutral species that are electrophilic due to their overall electron deficiency. Thus, the best description of an electrophile is that it is an electron-deficient species that accepts electrons.