Skip to content
    Chemistry A-Level

    Nucleophilic addition mechanism

    What Nucleophilic addition mechanism means in Chemistry A-Level, as defined for OCR.

    Definitions of Nucleophilic addition mechanism

    Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.

    Check what you remember

    Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Nucleophilic addition mechanism in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.

    Reference: OCR

    A curly arrow is drawn from the nucleophile's lone pair to the carbonyl carbon and a second arrow from the C=O π bond onto the oxygen, followed by protonation of the alkoxide.
    OCR · Carbonyl compounds
    The nucleophile adds to the carbonyl carbon and the π bond opens, giving a tetrahedral intermediate that picks up a proton.
    OCR · Carbonyl compounds

    Topics that use Nucleophilic addition mechanism

    Related terms

    Using Nucleophilic addition mechanism in the exam

    Check the command word and mark scheme for your exact question. After comparing your explanation with the reference, use the term in an answer on the linked topic. This practice does not predict an exam mark.

    Practise Chemistry questions

    Create a free account to answer exam-style questions on this topic and get feedback on your answers.

    Start free

    A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge

    All Chemistry A-Level terms