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Lewis Theory

Last updated

Feb 28, 2022
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- Lewis Base
- Ligand

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According to Brønsted-Lowry theory, only a species containing at least one hydrogen atom has the potential to act as an acid in a reaction. Lewis theory is an attempt to extend the concept of acidity beyond species containing hydrogen. According to Lewis theory, in a reaction, a species that accepts a pair of electrons to form a new covalent bond is an acid, and a species that contribute s a pair of electrons toward a new covalent bond is a base.

eg. 1:

In this reaction, $BF_3$ accepts a pair of electrons from $F^-$ to form a new covalent bond and, therefore, acts as an acid; $F^-$ contributes a pair of electrons toward a new covalent bond with $BF_3$ and, therefore, acts as a base.

In a reaction a species that acts as an acid according to Lewis theory is called a Lewis acid and a species that acts as a base a Lewis base.

eg. 2:

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