Question

Cyanide is: 
(a) Nucleophilic
(b) Electrophilic
(c) Strongly acidic
(d) Non-reactive and neutral

Answer 1

Hint: Ammonia (\[N{H_3}\]) has a lone pair of electrons in its molecular form. Therefore, it can donate it to the electronically poor atoms or molecules by getting attached to them.

Complete step-by-step answer:
The nucleophilic reagents or nucleophiles are the chemical species that can donate their loan pair of electrons to the electron deficient molecules (electrophiles).
The nucleophiles are represented by \[N{U^ - }\] notation.
The word nucleophiles are composed of two words i.e., \[Nucleo + phile\]. The Nucleo word belongs to the nucleus. Whereas the phile means love. In other words, we can say they love electron-deficient chemical species. On the other hand, we can say they are electronically rich species.
The nucleophiles are also considered Lewis bases because they can donate their unshared pair of electrons.

Classification of nucleophiles
On the bases of charge, the nucleophiles can be of three types.
Negatively charged nucleophiles:
Such types of nucleophiles are negatively charged.
For example, \[{H^ - }\], \[O{H^ - }\],\[{I^ - }\], \[B{r^ - }\] , \[C{l^ - }\], \[{F^ - }\], \[RCO{O^ - }\], \[C{N^ - }\], \[{R^ - }\], etc.
Neutral nucleophiles:
Nucleophiles that possess loan pairs of electrons are called neutral nucleophiles.
For example, \[N{H_3}\], \[RN{H_2}\], \[{H_2}O\], \[RCN\], \[ROH\], \[ROR\], etc.
Ambident nucleophiles:
This kind of nucleophile has two sites for the donation of electron pairs.
For example,\[N{H_2} - OH\].
In organic transformation, the nucleophiles play a very important role in the synthesis of new compounds. Because they are electronically rich, therefore they are attracted by electronically poor molecules in the various chemical transformations.

The above statements conclude that cyanide is a charged nucleophile. Hence, option (a) is correct.
Note: In contrast with nucleophiles, electrophiles are electronically poor species.