Some important terms 1. Electrophile (Blectron loving) A reagent which can accept an electron pair in a reaction is called an electrophile, An electrophile may be positive ion or neutral molecule with an electron-deficient center. Examples are; H”, CI, CH},NO}, AICI,, BE,, SO,ete. 2. Nucleophile (Nucleus loving) A reagent which can donate an electron-pair to an electrophilic center, in a reaction is called a nucleophile. A nucleophile may be negative ion or neutral molecule with lone pair of electrons. Examples arc; CI”, “OH, “CH,, “NH,, NH,, H,0 etc. 3. Free radicals A fie radical is an atom or group of atoms having unpaired election(s). Free radicals are produced during the homolytic fission of ¢ covalent bond. They are very reactive as they have sitong tendency to pair up their impaired electron with another electron fiom wherever available. Examples are: H*, CI*, *CH, ete 4, Homolytic and Heterolytic bond fission Bond breaking (fission) is an endothermic process. If sufficient amount of energy is available, a covalent bond can undergo fission in two ways, a) _Homolytic Bond Fission or Homolysis: In Homolytic fission, « chemical bond breaks in such a way that each of the two bonded stoms acquires one of the bending, electrons. Homolysis results in the formation of free radicals. The arrows in the following general example shows the movement of one eleciron each to both atoms NY . . At-A —— A WW mY . p4-c. ——+ ata b) Heterolytic Bond Fission or Heterolysis: In Heterolytic fission the chemical bond breaks in such a way that one of the bonded atoms acquires both of the bonded electrons. The aiom with high electronegativity, usvally, acquires both the bonding clectrons. Heterelysis results in the formation of ions (électrophile and nucleophile) The arrow in the following general example indicates the movement of sigma electrons towards a single atom,