Lewis relies on electron pairs

In the same year that Bronsted and Lowry proposed their definition of acids and bases, an American chemist named Gilbert Lewis proposed an alternative definition that not only encompassed Bronsted-Lowry theory but also accounted for acid-base reactions in which a hydrogen ion isn t exchanged. Lewis s definition relies on tracking lone pairs of electrons. Under his theory, a base is any substance that donates a pair of electrons to form a coordinate covalent bond with another substance, while an acid is a substance that accepts that electron pair in such a reaction. As we explain in Chapter 5, a coordinate covalent bond is a covalent bond in which both of the bonding electrons are donated by one of the atoms forming the bond. 

All Br0nsted-Lowry acids are Lewis acids, but in practice, the term Lewis acid is generally reserved for Lewis acids that don t also fit the Bronsted-Lowry definition. The best way to spot a Lewis acid-base pair is to draw a Lewis dot structure of the reacting substances, noting the presence of lone pairs of electrons. (We introduce Lewis structures in Chapter 5.) For example, consider the reaction between ammonia (NH3) and boron trifluoride (BFj)  

Sometimes you can identify the Lewis acid and base in a compound without drawing the Lewis dot structure. You can do this by identifying reactants that are electron rich (bases) or electron poor (acids). A metal cation, for example, is electron poor and tends to act as a Lewis acid in a reaction, accepting a pair of electrons. 

In practice, it s much simpler to use the Arrhenius or Bronsted-Lowry definition of acid and base, but you ll need to use the Lewis definition when hydrogen ions aren t being exchanged. You can pick and choose among the definitions when you re asked to identify the acid and base in a reaction. 

Identify the acid and base in the following reaction and label their conjugates. 

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