CN-> I-> RO- >HO- > Br- > Cl- > F- > H20

[atlanta213]

CN-> I-> RO- >HO- > Br- > Cl- > F- > H20

"larger atoms tend to be better nucleophiles"

I think CN, OR, OH are smaller MW than I. How come CN is the largest?
Also RO- and HO- are samller than Br by MW.

What did i miss?

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[osimsDDS]

MW?????? it has NOTHING to do with molecular weight, the size of an atom is regarded to the periodic table of elements and the trends...as you move up and across from left to right the size of the atom decreases (F is the smallest atomic radius)

Nucleophilicity has to do with larger atomic radii...has nothing to do with MW

 

[atlanta213]

Thanks OsimsDDS.

I still do not understand why CN ( More left and more up than OH) is larger than OH?


I think CN has smaller radii than OH.

 

[osimsDDS]

look at N and O on the periodic table....going to the left from right you increase the atomic radii, so N would be bigger than O

 

[atlanta213]

Why we compare Only N and O? What about H and C?

Thank

 

[osimsDDS]

your question pertained to Nucleophiles, C and H are not nucleophiles...only electronegative atoms are nucleophiles...

Maybe you should go over basic trends of the periodic table first then you will understand this better...also read kaplan ochem

 

[Maygyver]

Why we compare Only N and O? What about H and C?

Thank

Carbon will be bigger than Hydrogen anyway...just think about what Hydrogen is compared to Carbon.