What type of reaction occurs when an electrophile reacts with a nucleophile?

When an electrophile reacts with a nucleophile, the reaction type is primarily identified as an addition reaction. In this context, electrophiles are species that accept electron pairs, while nucleophiles are electron-rich species that donate electron pairs. The fundamental nature of the addition reaction involves the formation of a new bond as two molecules combine, resulting in a larger, more complex molecule.

In organic chemistry, this process is often seen in reactions involving alkenes and alkynes, where the double or triple bonds are broken, and new bonds to the electrophile are formed. Additionally, nucleophiles will attack electrophiles, leading to the addition of functional groups to the molecule, which is characteristic of addition reactions.

This understanding aligns with the principle that the outcome of the reaction hinges on the interaction between the electron-rich and electron-deficient species, making the addition of the electrophile to the nucleophile a defining feature of this reaction type.

While substitution, combustion, and dehydrogenation reactions are relevant concepts in organic chemistry, they encapsulate different mechanisms and types of transformations that do not directly embody the interaction between an electrophile and a nucleophile in the same manner as addition reactions do.