Difference between Lewis and Bronsted

[Nicoline Breytenbach 3D]

What's the difference between Lewis acids and bases and Bronsted acids and bases? Which do we work with more in this class? Is there a lot of overlap between the two, or any specific things that don't overlap?

[davidbakalov_lec2_2L]

Bronsted acids and bases focus on the proton, so an Bronsted acid is a proton donor and a base is a proton acceptor. Lewis acids and bases focus on the electron, so an acid in this case is an electron acceptor and a base is an electron donor. I am not quite sure, however, whether we work with one more than the other.

[Carlos Gomez 3H]

I would think it is best to know the difference between both and how to identify a chemical as a bronsted base/acid or a lewis acid/base and how they correlate with each other.

[Ian Marquez 2K]

Also, it is important to note that Lewis acids and bases are more general than Bronsted acids and bases. In the textbook, it says all Bronsted acids and bases are Lewis acids and bases but not the other way around.

[Ashley P 4I]

How do we identify the difference then? Like is there a specific way of knowing the difference or do we need to memorize?

[Mallory_Podosin_1H]

I think the easiest way to recognize is by the presence of a proton. A molecule cannot be a bronsted acid if it doesn't have a hydrogen.