Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the meaning of bond cleavage?

Answer:

The breaking of a chemical bond is called bond cleavage. There are two types of bond cleavage depending on the sharing of electrons between the two atoms of the bond.

1. Homolytic cleavage: The two electrons in the bond are equally shared between the two atoms.

2. Heterolytic cleavage: One of the atoms gets both the electrons of the bond.

2. What makes a strong nucleophile?

Answer: 

The conjugate base of a good nucleophile. For example, OH^– is a good nucleophile than H₂O. The greater the negative charge, the atoms are more likely to give electrons to form a bond.

3. Is water (H₂O) nucleophile or electrophile?

Answer:

Water is a highly polar compound with a high density of electrons or electron-rich molecules. Hence, water is an example of a nucleophile.