Is the word explicar the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?

Yes

The word "explicar" is identical in meaning, spelling, and conjugation in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. The primary difference is pronunciation: in Brazilian Portuguese, the vowels are generally more "open" and clearly articulated, whereas in Continental Portuguese, unstressed vowels (such as the "e" in the first syllable "ex-") are often "closed" or reduced to a nearly silent sound. Additionally, while the word itself does not change, its typical usage in a sentence differs regarding pronoun placement: Brazilians typically place object pronouns before the verb (me explicar), while the standard in Portugal is to place them after the verb (explicar-me).

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

1. Você pode me explicar isso? (Can you explain this to me?)
2. Eu vou explicar o que aconteceu ontem. (I am going to explain what happened yesterday.)
3. Ele explicou o problema de um jeito bem simples. (He explained the problem in a very simple way.)
4. Ela explicou toda a matéria para a equipe. (She explained the whole subject to the team.)
5. Não me explica isso de novo, por favor. (Don't explain this to me again, please.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

1. Podes explicar-me isto? (Can you explain this to me?)
2. Vou explicar o que aconteceu ontem. (I am going to explain what happened yesterday.)
3. Ele explicou o problema de uma forma muito simples. (He explained the problem in a very simple way.)
4. Ela explicou toda a matéria à equipa. (She explained the whole subject to the team.)
5. Não me expliques isso outra vez, por favor. (Don't explain this to me again, please.)