Chapter 16: Problem 123
All Brönsted acids are Lewis acids, but the reverse is not true. Give two examples of Lewis acids that are not Brönsted acids.
Short Answer
Expert verified
BF₃ and AlCl₃ are Lewis acids that are not Brönsted acids.
Step by step solution
01
Define Brönsted Acid
A Brönsted acid is a substance that can donate a proton (H⁺) to another substance. Examples include hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄).
02
Define Lewis Acid
A Lewis acid is a compound that can accept an electron pair from a Lewis base. It does not necessarily donate protons. Examples include boron trifluoride (BF₃) and aluminum chloride (AlCl₃).
03
Identify Lewis Acids that are not Brönsted Acids
Since Lewis acids accept electron pairs and are not required to donate protons, we can identify compounds like boron trifluoride (BF₃) and aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) as Lewis acids that do not have protons to donate, making them not Brönsted acids.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Brönsted acids
Brönsted acids are an essential concept in chemistry. They are defined by their ability to donate a proton, commonly known as a hydrogen ion (H⁺), to another substance. This donation process is what primarily characterizes a Brönsted acid.
Classic examples of Brönsted acids include:
Classic examples of Brönsted acids include:
- Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
- Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄)
Proton donation
Proton donation is a fundamental process in which a Brönsted acid releases a proton, or H⁺ ion, to another molecule or ion. This process is integral to what defines a substance as a Brönsted acid.
During this donation:
During this donation:
- The Brönsted acid loses a proton.
- The accepting molecule or ion, termed the base, becomes a conjugate acid.
Electron pair acceptance
Electron pair acceptance is the hallmark of Lewis acids. A Lewis acid is any compound capable of accepting an electron pair from a donor, known as a Lewis base. This can occur without the need for proton donation, distinguishing Lewis acids from Brönsted acids.
Key points about Lewis acid electron pair acceptance:
Key points about Lewis acid electron pair acceptance:
- Lewis acids are not defined by the presence or absence of protons.
- They generally have empty orbitals, allowing them to accept electron pairs effectively.
Boron trifluoride
Boron trifluoride (BF₃) is a classic example of a Lewis acid that does not qualify as a Brönsted acid. It does not donate protons but excels in accepting electron pairs due to the electron-deficient nature of boron.
Here's how boron trifluoride acts as a Lewis acid:
Here's how boron trifluoride acts as a Lewis acid:
- The boron atom in BF₃ has an empty p-orbital.
- It can accept an electron pair from a Lewis base, like ammonia (NH₃).
Aluminum chloride
Aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) is another prominent Lewis acid that is not a Brönsted acid. It is highly reactive due to its ability to accept electron pairs, rather than donating protons.
Understanding aluminum chloride:
Understanding aluminum chloride:
- AlCl₃, especially in its anhydrous form, has an electron-deficient aluminum atom.
- This deficiency allows it to readily accept electrons, making it an efficient catalyst in many chemical reactions.