🥼organic chemistry review

Polar reactions

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Polar reactions in organic chemistry are chemical reactions where electrons are not shared equally between atoms, resulting in the formation of partial positive and negative charges that drive the reaction. These reactions typically involve the movement of electrons from a nucleophile (electron-rich species) to an electrophile (electron-deficient species).