Identify the reagents shown in bold in the following equations as nucleophiles or electrophiles: C_6H_5 + CH_3C+O \rightarrow→ C_6H_5COCH_3
Identify the reagents shown in bold in the following equations as nucleophiles or electrophiles: C_6H_5 + CH_3C+O \rightarrow→ C_6H_5COCH_3

Solution:

A nucleophile is a reagent that has an electron pair and will give it away. It is otherwise called a core adoring reagent.

An electrophile is a reagent which needs an electron pair and is otherwise called an electron-adoring pair.

 

    \[~C6H5\text{ }+\text{ }CH3C+O\text{ }\to \text{ }C6H5COCH3\]

It is an electrophile since CH3C+O is electron-insufficient in nature.