Lewis Acid vs. Lewis Base [ENDORSED]

[Emmy Son 4f]

What are the distinguishing characteristics for a lewis acid and a lewis base?

[Shawn Schwartz 1D]

For starters, the distinguishing factors for a Lewis Acid vs. a Lewis Base is to remember that Lewis Acids are electron acceptors while Lewis Bases are electron donors.

Acid ==> Acceptor
Base ==> Donor

For example, in the diagram that I have attached...
You can see that the Fluorine atom has a negative (-) charge, and as we know with charges based on the periodic table, a negative (-) charge means that an atom is tending to have an extra set of electrons to "give away"...or "donate." So, a Lewis Acid tends to be positively (+) charged so that it can accept this extra pair because (+) charges mean that the atom is lacking a pair of electrons. This is why when we do lewis structures and there is a (+) charge on the ion we subtract those electrons from the total count of valence electrons because they are being lacked (and thus would love to be given some from the Lewis Base.)

So, those are some of the key characteristics for Lewis Acids & Lewis Bases.

[Roya_N]

This diagram/visual really helped clear up any misunderstandings I had for Lewis Acids and Bases, thank you.

[Shawn Schwartz 1D]

This diagram/visual really helped clear up any misunderstandings I had for Lewis Acids and Bases, thank you.

You're very welcome! I'm glad that I was able to help you! :D