Electrophiles and Nucleophiles are atoms, bonds, or (small or small parts of) compounds that are involved in chemical reactions. Nucleophiles are "nucleus loving " which mea
…ns that they want to give up electrons and gain a bond with another atom. These are usually negative or neutral compounds. (-OH base is a good example, the oxygen usually gives electrons) Electrophiles are the opposite, they are "electron loving " which means that they gain electrons (from the nucleophile to form a new bond). (A carbon-carbon double bond or hydrogen molecule can act as an electrophile for example.) ( Full Answer )