In a polar protic solvent, which of the following halide ions exhibits the maximum nucleophilicity? — Reaction Mechanism Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

In polar protic solvents, smaller anions are heavily solvated through hydrogen bonding, which severely restricts their mobility and diminishes their nucleophilicity. Therefore, nucleophilicity increases down the group as the size of the ion increases and solvation decreases. The correct order is $I^- > Br^- > Cl^- > F^-$.