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Question

Is CO2 an acid or a base?


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Solution

Lewis acids and base:

  1. Lewis acids are chemical compounds with vacant orbitals that can accept electron pairs from Lewis bases.
  2. Some common examples: Iron (Fe+2and Fe+3), Cations of d-block elements that represent high-oxidation states Copper (Cu), Hydroium ions (H2O+) ,hydrogen ions, and Metal cations such as Li+ andMg+2.
  3. A Lewis base is a species that possesses a single pair of electrons and can donate an electron pair.
  4. H2O,Cl-,I-,CH3-,NH3-are some examples of lewis base.
  5. Carbon dioxide is a polar molecule that has a positive center on the carbon atom and can attract (and accept) lone electron pairs. found on the Oxide ion (O2-).
  6. As a result, Carbon dioxide acts as a Lewis acid, whereas the Oxide ion acts as a Lewis base.
  7. When Carbon dioxide is dissolved in water to generate Carbonic acid, the water acts as a Lewis base, donating electron pairs while Carbon dioxide takes them.

Therefore, Carbon dioxide is a lewis acid.


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