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Fundamentals of Organic ChemistryChemistryGeneral Organic Chemistry

Identify the correct decreasing order of nucleophilicity for the following anions: (I) (II) (III)

Options

  1. A(I) > (II) > (III)
  2. B(III) > (II) > (I)
  3. C(I) > (III) > (II)
  4. D(II) > (III) > (I)

Correct answer

B. (III) > (II) > (I)

Step-by-step solution

Nucleophilicity depends on the polarizability and size of the donor atom when comparing atoms in the same group. The donor atoms in the given anions are Oxygen (O), Sulfur (S), and Selenium (Se), which belong to Group 16 of the periodic table. As we move down the group, the atomic size increases in the order O With the increase in size, the polarizability of the atom increases. A more polarizable electron cloud can interact more easily with an electrophile, making the species a better nucleophile. Furthermore, larg

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