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How do protic solvents decrease nucleophilicity?

Answer 1

The electron-rich (also known as nucleophilic) species is surrounded by protons released by the protic solvent, which draws electron densities towards them. This causes the nucleophile to become less nucleophilic and satisfied, meaning that it no longer needs to donate electrons to another species that is electron-deficient.

Ex: A protic solvent is water.

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Answer 2

Lucy Alessi

Protic solvents decrease nucleophilicity by solvating the nucleophile through hydrogen bonding, which reduces its reactivity towards electrophiles. Additionally, protic solvents can stabilize the transition state, leading to a slower reaction rate.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.