Final answer:
Sodium hydroxide provides a strong nucleophilic hydroxide ion, while hydrogen peroxide is used for its oxidizing properties in chemical reactions. Together, they serve different roles to achieve a desired chemical transformation, where both nucleophilicity and oxidation are required.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question "Why do not we use sodium hydroxide alone as a nucleophile instead of using hydrogen peroxide along with sodium hydroxide" pertains to specific chemical synthesis or reactions where both sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide are used for a purpose. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base and when dissolved in water, it disassociates completely into sodium (Na+) and hydroxide (OH−) ions. This allows it to act as a nucleophile by providing an OH− ion that can attack electrophilic centers.
However, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) serves a different role. It is often used as an oxidizing agent, which can introduce oxygen into organic molecules or increase the oxidation state of a particular reactant. Therefore, hydrogen peroxide is used in conjunction with sodium hydroxide when both base-induced nucleophilicity and oxidation are required for a chemical transformation.
Additionally, sodium hydroxide alone can induce unwanted side reactions due to its high reactivity and basicity, such as over-deprotonation or nucleophilic attack on sensitive functional groups. Hence, hydrogen peroxide adds another dimension to the reaction, being more selective in its chemical behavior. The choice of reagents thus depends on the desired outcome of the synthesis or reaction being conducted in the laboratory or industry.