Question

Classify the following species into Lewis acids and Lewis bases and show how these act as Lewis acid/base:
(a) $O{H}^{–}$
(b) $F^{–}$
(c) $H^{+}$
(d) $BC{l}_3.$

Answer 1

a) $O{H}^{–}$ is a Lewis base since it can donate its lone pair of electrons.
(b) $F^{–}$ is a Lewis base since it can donate a pair of electrons.
(c) $H^{+}$ is a Lewis acid since it can accept a pair of electrons.
(d) $BC{l}_3$ is a Lewis acid since it can accept a pair of electrons.