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3.4 Electron-pair sharing reactions

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Topic
3.4
Level
SL

Objective notes

8 learning objectives
3.4.1Nucleophiles

• Donate electron pair to electrophile

• Recognize nucleophiles as electron-rich species

3.4.2Nucleophilic substitution

• Nucleophile donates pair, forms new bond

• Another bond breaks, leaving group departs

• Deduce substitution products from nucleophile and leaving group

3.4.3Heterolytic fission

• Both electrons stay with one fragment

• Forms ions

• Use curly arrows to show electron-pair movement

3.4.4Electrophiles

• Accept electron pair from nucleophile

• Recognize electrophiles as electron-deficient species

3.4.5Electrophilic addition to alkenes

• High electron density at C=C bond

• Reactions: + H₂O, + halogens, + hydrogen halides

• Deduce alkene addition equations; SL mechanisms are not assessed

3.4.6Lewis acid-base theory

• Lewis acid = electron-pair acceptor

• Lewis base = electron-pair donor

• Classify nucleophiles/electrophiles using Lewis acid-base theory

3.4.7Coordination bond formation

• Lewis base + Lewis acid

• Nucleophiles = Lewis bases

• Electrophiles = Lewis acids

• Explain coordination bond formation with electron-pair donation

3.4.8Complex ions

• Ligands donate electron pairs to transition metal cations

• Identify ligands and central transition metal cations in complex ions

ConceptIB Chemistry SL