lewis vs. bronsted [ENDORSED]

[Megan Bundy 2K]

can someone explain the difference between Lewis acids and bases and Bronsted acids and bases?

[Sanjana Sivakumar 2E]

Hello!

I believe the lewis acid and base is in regards to electrons while Bronsted acids and bases are in regards to protons.

For example:
A bronsted acid is one that donate a proton.
A lewis acid is one that can accept an electron.

A bronsted base is one that accepts a proton.
A lewis base is one that can donates an electron.

Either way they mean the same thing.

Hope this helps!

[Kelly_Luong_1F]

Lewis acids/bases focus on the transfer of electrons (with Lewis acids being electron-pair acceptors and bases as the electron-pair donor). While Bronsted acids/bases focus on the transfer of protons (Bronsted acids are proton donors and bases are proton acceptors).

[Thailer Phorn 1C]

The main difference is that Lewis acids and bases are concerned with electrons while Bronsted acids and bases are concerned with protons. For example, a Lewis acid accepts an electron while a Bronsted acid donates a proton. These essentially mean the same thing.

[Thailer Phorn 1C]

The main difference is that Lewis acids and bases are concerned with electrons while Bronsted acids and bases are concerned with protons. For example, a Lewis acid accepts an electron while a Bronsted acid donates a proton. These essentially mean the same thing.

[605607825]

Hello! Lewis acids are any substance that can accept nonbonding electron pairs.
Lewis bases are any substance that can donate pairs of nonbonding electrons.
Bronsted acids are any compound that can give a proton to another compound.
Bronsted bases are compounds that accept protons. Here are some diagrams I found online! I hope this helped!

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ck12bg.ck12.or ... 540_50.jpg
https://leah4sci.com/wp-content/uploads ... -Bases.png

[Olivia Ghorai 1J]

The Lewis and Bronsted definitions of acid and base differ in what the refer to being accepted and donated. The Lewis definition says that an acid is a lone pair acceptor an a a base is a lone pair donator. The Bronsted definition says that an acid is a proton donator and a base is a proton acceptor.

[Amanda Dankberg 1B]

Lewis acids and bases focus on the transfer of electrons whilst bronsted focuses on the transfer of protons

[Harrington Bubb3A]

Use this trick! LEEEEwis electron and PPPPPPronsted proton!

[Vanessa Wiratmo 3k]

These terms differ by definition. It is important to know the difference when asked to identify one or the other because it can cause confusion.

A Lewis Base is a species that DONATES ELECTRON pair
- an example of this is (OH-),(F-),(NH3)
- These examples have a lone pair of electrons that can be donated to a species that accepts these electrons (lewis acid)

A Lewis Acid is a species that ACCEPTS ELECTRON pair
- an example of this is (BF3),(H+)
- Boron Trifluoride has the ability to complete its octet by accepting another electron pair
- The hydrogen ion has a +1 charge, so it has the ability to accept the electron pair from a lewis base

A Bronsted Base is a PROTON ACCEPTOR
- an example of this is NH3 (aq)
- It accepts the H+(proton) from a Bronsted acid (HCl) to create the positive ion (NH4+)

A Bronsted Acid is a PROTON DONOR
- an example of this is HCl (aq)
- It donates a H+ (proton) to a Bronted Base (NH3) to create the positive ion (NH4+)
- another example is with water
HCl(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ H3O+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

[Amy Jordan 2A]

Hi,
A bronsted acid is a proton (H+) donor. A bronsted base is a proton (H+) acceptor.
A Lewis acid is a lone pair acceptor while a Lewis base is a lone pair donor. Hope this helps!

[kareena_prasad]

Lewis acids/bases concern electrons while Bronsted acids/bases concern protons.

[205819952]

Lewis acids and bases are focused with the transfer of electrons, whereas Bronsted is concerned with the transport of protons.

[Jessica Li 1G]

If you are talking about the transfer of electrons and coordination compounds, then you would usually use the Lewis definition of acids. Bronsted definition is more appropriate when addressing the transfer of protons and acids/bases.

[Darlene Luu 1H]

Lewis acid accepts electrons. Lewis base donates electrons.
Bronsted acid donates protons. Bronsted base accepts protons.

[405825570]

Question: does anyone know why we label them as lewis or bronsted rather than just saying that they donate/accept H+ or donate/accept lone pairs? thanks

[Neha Jonnalagadda 2D]

Lewis acids and bases deal with electrons while bronsted acids and bases deal with protons.

[Trisha Nagin]

Bronsted acid donates protons.
Bronsted base accepts protons.

Lewis acid accepts electrons.
Lewis base donates electrons.

[Luke Schwuchow 14A]

Hello! This can actually be quite simple
A Bronsted acid donates protons, while a bronsted base accepts protons. A lewis acid accepts electrons, while a lewis base donates electrons.
A nemonic I use to remember the difference is for Lewis structures and I just remember that Bronsted is a reversal of this. Lewis is a toxic boyfriend (acidic, toxic.... kinda the same) and his basic girlfriend pours her heart and soul into Lewis (basic girl... basic solution who "give" or donates their heart). I hope that was helpful.

[Emma Goellner 2I]

Lewis acids can accept electrons, while lewis bases can donate electrons.

Bronsted acids can donate protons, while bronsted bases can accept protons.

[Gavin Trent 2F]

A lewis acid / base deals with electrons, where a base donates electrons and an acid accepts electrons. A Bronsted acid / base deals with protons, where an acid donates a proton (H+) and a base accepts the proton.

[Claire Kim 1F]

can someone explain the difference between Lewis acids and bases and Bronsted acids and bases?

The main difference is that the Lewis acids/bases are related to electrons while the Bronsted acids/bases are related to protons.

[Nick Oscarson 1K]

Lewis acids & bases and Bronsted acids & bases are simply just different ways to understand acids and bases in general. The main difference is that Lewis acids & bases focus on electrons, whereas Bronsted acids & bases focus on protons.

Lewis acids accept electrons while Lewis bases donate electrons.
Bronsted acids donate protons while Bronsted bases accept protons.

Here's a video to also help explain! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyBkPwsRY2E

[Ethan Mai 1D]

The main thing to remember is that Lewis acids/bases are associated with electrons, while Bronsted acids/bases are associated with protons.

Lewis acids receive electrons.
Lewis bases give electrons.

Bronsted acids give protons.
Bronsted bases receive protons.

In a way, they are opposite in the component that they receive. Hope this helps!

[Alyssa H]

Lewis acids accept electron pairs, while Bronsted acids donate protons. Lewis bases donate electron pairs, while Bronsted bases accept protons.

[Madeline_Miller]

This topic is a tad confusing because Bronsted Acids and Bases and Lewis Acids and Bases are essentially flipped flopped.

A bronsted acid is one that donate a proton.
A lewis acid is one that can accept an electron.

A bronsted base is one that accepts a proton.
A lewis base is one that can donates an electron.

[Sidharth Paparaju 3B]

A bronsted acid gives away a proton and a bronsted base accepts a proton; a lewis acid accepts an e- pair while a lewis base donates an e- pair.

[Evonne Chau 2I]

Hi Megan,

Lewis Acids/Bases are associated with electrons while Bronsted Acids/Bases are associated with protons.

A Lewis Acid is a species that accept electrons
- To remember this (keeping in mind that Lewis is electrons), I think of Acid and Accept
A Lewis Base is a species that donates electrons
- To remember this, I just keep in mind that if Lewis Acid accepts, Lewis Base must donate

A Bronsted Acid is a proton donor
- To remember this (keeping in mind that Bronsted is protons), I keep in mind that Bronsted Acid is the "opposite" of Lewis Acid. If Lewis Acid accepts, Bronsted Acid must donate
A Bronsted Base is a proton acceptor
- To remember this, I just keep in mind that if Bronsted Acid donates, Bronsted Base must accept

[hanniaghernandez]

hello! Thank you so much for all of y'all who took your time to answer this. These terms were all a little confusing to me since they all have similar names, but this is definitely so helpful!

[Yewon Jang 3K]

A Bronsted acid donates a proton while a Bronsted base accepts a proton. A Lewis base donates an electron while a Lewis accepts accepts an electron.

[Palig Kechichian 3F]

Both definitions basically have the same concept, but the Bronsted definition focuses on the donor and acceptor of the proton, whilst the Lewis definition focuses on the donor and acceptor of the electron.