Polar reactions

Definition

Polar reactions in organic chemistry are chemical reactions where electrons are not shared equally between atoms, resulting in the formation of partial positive and negative charges that drive the reaction. These reactions typically involve the movement of electrons from a nucleophile (electron-rich species) to an electrophile (electron-deficient species).

Related terms

Electrophile:

An atom or molecule that accepts an electron pair to form a new chemical bond.

Nucleophile:

An atom or molecule that donates an electron pair to form a new chemical bond.

Partial charge: A non-integer charge value that occurs due to unequal sharing of electrons between atoms in a chemical bond