Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Say whether each species is a nucleophile or an electrophile, and give a reason.
A nucleophile is electron-rich and gives a pair. An electrophile is electron-poor and takes one. There are four types of reaction. Substitution replaces a group, with two molecules in and two out. Addition joins two molecules into one and uses up a pi bond. Elimination removes a small molecule and makes a pi bond. Rearrangement moves atoms inside one molecule. When counting bonds, a double bond holds one sigma bond and one pi bond.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
(a) Nucleophile. The oxygen has lone pairs and a negative charge.
(b) Electrophile. Sulfur is short of electrons and takes a pair.
(c) Electrophile. The carbon has a positive charge and an empty orbital.
(d) Nucleophile. The nitrogen has a lone pair, though the molecule is neutral.
(e) Electrophile. Iron has empty orbitals, so it is a Lewis acid.
Answer: (a) and (d) are nucleophiles. (b), (c) and (e) are electrophiles.
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