Final answer:
Good nucleophiles can indeed kick out leaving groups in nucleophilic substitution reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In nucleophilic substitution reactions, good nucleophiles can indeed kick out leaving groups. This type of reaction is called SN2, where S is for substitution, N is for nucleophilic, and 2 is for bimolecular.
When a good nucleophile approaches an electrophilic carbon, it starts making a bond with the carbon while the leaving group simultaneously starts breaking the bond. In the transition state, the three groups attached to the carbon acquire a trigonal planar arrangement perpendicular to the bond being broken and formed. This concerted mechanism allows the nucleophile to kick out the leaving group and replace it in one step.
So, the statement that good nucleophiles kick out leaving groups is true.