The concept of acid and bases is an essential part of chemistry for one to be successful. Lewis acid and base motif is among the widely applied theories. The theory extends the definition of a base and an acid beyond the commonly used H+ and H- ions. The theory that acid and bases are proton donors and acceptors respectively, are highly restrictive. Some situations may sometimes arise whereby the idea does not hold, for instance, the case of solids and gases. Therefore it is essential to understand the 1923 G.N. Lewis’s proposed alternative theory for describing acids and bases ( Lathem & Heiden, 2017 ). The approach generally describes bases and acids depending on their structure and bonding. By using the Lewis definition of acids and bases, the chemists would be able to predict various acid-base reactions. The theory uses the transfer of electrons and instead of protons.
One also needs to understand that the complex polyatomic ions are generally formed from the metal ion with other tiny ions that have been joined all around. The Lewis acid-base theory, which this topic is based on, can explain that polyatomic ions are complex ions. Besides, one will also need to know how amphoteric substances can act as both acid and bases. For instance, water may behave as an acid when it donates its proton to the base, thereby it become its conjugate acid (OH-). Besides, water may also take the behavior of a base through acid proton acceptance. In that case, water becomes it’s the acid’s conjugate base (H3O+).
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These are essential concepts for a chemist to learn from the topic “Identification and strength of the Lewis acids and conjugate bases” to succeed in the class. Moreover, acid and bases are essential substances for chemists to know how to differentiate them since they are used in significant application areas.
Reference
Lathem, A. P., & Heiden, Z. M. (2017). Quantification of Lewis acid induced Brønsted acidity of protogenic Lewis bases. Dalton Transactions , 46 (18), 5976-5985.
