Lewis acids

[annabelle_stiger_2G]

How do we know when a molecule is considered a lewis acid or base id if it has a formal charge of 0? For example, why is CO2 an acid? Are all lewis acids also regular acids?

[Ahmad Almuti 3K]

Consider the molecule's ability to accept electrons. CO2 is a lewis acid due to resonance. the resonance creates a partial charge on the carbon allowing it to accept electrons. Also all bronsted lowry acids are lewis acids but its not the other way around.

[Kenneth Dang 3I]

I believe that CO2 is a lewis acid because it has polar bonds. The O on both sides of the C are more electronegative and thus have a negative dipole moment S-, making the C have a positive dipole moment S+. This allows it to accept the lone pair e- of a lewis base, as the e- will be attracted to the S+.

[306001327]

To my understanding, Lewis acids have a characteristic that they must have a vacant orbital.