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Question:

Which has the highest nucleophilicity?

CH₃⁻

F⁻

OH⁻

NH₂⁻

Solution:

A nucleophile is a chemical species that donates an electron pair to an electrophile to form a chemical bond in relation to a reaction. Electronegativity – “greed for electrons” – is the opposite of nucleophilicity – “giving away electrons”. So, less the electronegativity, more the nucleophilicity of the ion. CH₃⁻ has the highest nucleophilicity. Nucleophilicity decreases as CH₃⁻ > NH₂⁻ > OH⁻ > F⁻