See image — GOC and Organic Chemistry Basics Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

# Identifying Electrophiles **Electrophiles** are species that are electron-deficient and seek electron density. They accept electron pairs from nucleophiles. ## Analysis of Each Species: **(A) $CO_2$** - Carbon has 4 valence electrons, forms 2 double bonds with oxygen - Carbon is sp hybridized with complete octet - Not electron-deficient; relatively inert as an electrophile under normal conditions **(B) $CCl_4$** - Carbon forms 4 single bonds with chlorine atoms - Carbon achieves a complete octet (8 electrons) - Saturated and stable; not an electrophile **(C) $AlCl_3$** - Aluminum has only 3 valence electrons - Forms 3 bonds with chlorine atoms, leaving aluminum with only 6 electrons - **Aluminum is electron-deficient** (lacks octet) and readily accepts electron pairs - Acts as a strong Lewis acid/electrophile - Can be written: $Al^{3+}$ with formal positive charge character ## Conclusion: Only **$AlCl_3$** is an electrophile because aluminum lacks a complete octet and actively seeks electron density. $CO_2$ and $CCl_4$ have complete octets and are not electron-deficient. **The answer is (C) $AlCl_3$**