Lewis and Bronsted Acid/Bases

[ElizabethP1L]

Hi everyone! I understand what defines an acid/base as Lewis or Bronsted. However, does this mean a Lewis base is always a Bronsted base and vice versa? Or can a base strictly be only Bronsted or Lewis? Similarly, is a Bronsted acid always a Lewis acid?

[Cameron Smith 1I]

I believe lewis os more broad so al bronsteds are lewis but a lewis cannot is not always bronsted.

[Gianna Graziano 1A]

Hi Elizabeth,
I believe that Lewis acids AND bases are a generalization of Bronsted acids and bases. Since a Lewis acid is anything that accepts an electron pair, the definition of a Bronsted acid, as something that accepts electrons at an acidic hydrogen, is comprised within the definition of a Lewis acid. I would describe a Bronsted acid as a more specific form of a Lewis acid. Although, they are not synonymous with each other.