Question

Why is bromine an electrophile?

Answer 1

`Br_2 rarr Br^+`(Electrophile) `+ Br^-`(stable anion)

Electrophile means Electron loving specie.

Explanation:

Bromine molecule undergo heterolytic cleavage to form `Br^+` and `Br^-` ions.

Here `Br^-` ion is stable due to Noble gas configuration, so it does not readily take part in chemical reactions.

Whereas the `Br^+` ion is very unstable and to attain stability it takes part in chemical reaction.

Since `Br^+` wants to gain electron to attain stability, so it is an
Electrophile (an electron loving specie).