Reference atom

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-010058",
  "term": "Reference atom",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The atom with respect to which a primitive change in a reaction is classified as nucleophilic, electrophilic, nucleofugal or homolytic. Naming a reference atom lets a bond-forming or bond-breaking change be described by the way electrons flow to or from that atom. When a nucleophile attacks a carbonyl group, the carbonyl carbon is the reference atom of the bond-forming change.",
  "subject": "Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "primitive change"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1989, 61, 23. 'System for symbolic representation of reaction mechanisms (Recommendations 1988)' on page 55 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac198961010023)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/reference-atom/"
}