Question

Identify the Lewis acid and Lewis base from among the reactants in each of the following equations.

Answer 1

Answer:

Part A

Ag+ is the Lewis acid and NH3 is the Lewis base.

Part B

AlBr3 is the Lewis acid and NH3 is the Lewis base.

Part C

AlCl3 is the Lewis acid and Cl− is the Lewis base.

Explanation:

A Lewis acid is any specie that accepts a lone pair of electrons. Ag^+, AlBr3 and AlCl3 all accepted lone pairs of electrons according to the three chemical reaction equations shown. Hence, they are Lewis acids.

A Lewis base donates a lone pair of electrons. They include neutral molecules having lone pair of electrons such as NH3 or negative ions such as Cl- .