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AAT Bioquest

What are the differences between basicity and nucleophilicity?

Posted May 23, 2024


Answer

Basis of differentiation

Basicity

Nucleophilicity

Defintiin

Basicity refers to the ability of a species to donate a pair of electrons to accept a proton and form a new bond.

Nucleophilicity refers to the ability of a species to donate a pair of electrons to form a new bond with an electrophile

Reactions

Involved in acid neutralization reactions

Nucleophilicity is involved in nucleophilic substitution and addition reactions

Function

Acts as hydrogen acceptors that can carry out neutralization reactions

Attacks electrophiles to carry out organic reactions

Mechanism

Is kinetic and reacts depending on the exposure

Is thermodynamic and affected by other chemical reactions

Electronegativity

The process is highly electronegative

The process is less electronegative and more electropositive

Additional resources

nucleophilicity

Weak Base pH Calculator