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An electrophile (literally meaning electron lover) is a positive ion or neutral molecule which is attracted to an area of high electron density in another molecule. Electrophiles are typically attracted to alkenes. Examples of electrophiles include H+, NO2+ (the nitronium ion) and SO3 (partial positive charge on the sulfur atom).
The addition reaction between an alkene and a hydrogen halide is a typical example of an electrophilic reaction. In the first step the electrophile (H+) is attracted towards the high electron density in the double bond, and bonds to one of the carbon atoms. The halide ion is subsequently attracted towards the resulting carbonium ion (positively charged carbon atom) and bonds to it completing the addition reaction:
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