Question

Question: Considering only electron density, state whether the following reactions will occur.

a.

b.

c.

d.

Short answer

Answer

a.The reaction will occur.

b.The reaction will not occur.

c.The reaction will occur.

d.The reaction will occur.

Step-by-step solution

Chemical reactions

Any electrostatic chemical reaction can occur only if both the donor and the acceptor atoms are present. This can be further described as the donation and the acceptance of electrons is a complementary process.

Electrophile

A species carrying a positive charge or connected to a highly electronegative atom tends to accept electrons. Hence, it is known as an electrophile.

All carbon atoms attached to a highly electronegative atom and positively charged species are electrophiles.

Nucleophile

The species having a negative charge or an excess of electrons tend to donate electrons to a species carrying an electron-deficient center. These species are called nucleophiles.

Electronegative atoms have lone pairs.The species have a negative charge, and the species containing multiple bonds are electrophiles.

Determining the feasibility of the given reactions

From the above explanation, it is clear that the reaction is possible only between an electrophile and a nucleophile.

a.

The carbon atom attached to the bromine atom is an electrophile. The reactant is a nucleophile. Hence, the given reaction is possible.

The reaction of a.

b.

Both the given chemical entities are nucleophiles. Hence, the given reaction is not possible.

The reaction of b.

c.

One of the chemical entities is an electrophile, and the other is a nucleophile. Hence, the given reaction is possible.

The reaction of c.

d.

One of the entities is an electrophile, and the other is a nucleophile. Hence, this reaction is possible.

The reaction of d.