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Lewis Acid

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What is Lewis Acid?

A Lewis acid is a species that can accept a lone pair of electrons from a Lewis base to form a coordinate covalent bond. Lewis acids are electron-pair acceptors and include metal cations, boron trifluoride (BF₃), and aluminium chloride (AlCl₃). The Lewis acid–base concept is broader than the Brønsted–Lowry concept and explains reactions that do not involve proton transfer.

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Term Lewis Acid

Frequently Asked Questions

A Lewis acid is a species that can accept a lone pair of electrons from a Lewis base to form a coordinate covalent bond. Lewis acids are electron-pair acceptors and include metal cations, boron trifluoride (BF₃), and aluminium chloride (AlCl₃). The Lewis acid–base concept is broader than the Brønsted–Lowry concept and explains reactions that do not involve proton transfer.

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