Bronsted Acid Vs Lewis Acid

This page under construction.

Acids and bases play vital roles in many organic chemical reactions. This page examines two complementary definitions of acids and bases, and explores some of the more common ways in which acids and bases are involved in promoting organic reactions. The factors that influence the relative strengths of acids and bases are as well reviewed.

Strongly Related Topics

Concrete Backdrop of Organic Compounds
Free energy Diagrams: Describing Chemical Reactions
Resonance and Resonance Forms: Conjugation and Conjugated Systems
Isomers/Isomerism

Somewhat Related Topics

Carbocations
Additions to Alkenes: Regiochemistry
E2 Reactions
Tautomers/Tautomerism

Glossary Terms

acidity constant	Bronsted-Lowry acids	Bronsted-Lowry bases
conjugate acid	conjugate base	electrophile
Human being	Lewis acrid	Lewis base
LUMO	nucleophile	resonance event

Acids and Bases: Lewis vs. Bronsted

There are two complementary definitions of acids and bases that are important:

the Bronsted (or Bronsted-Lowry) definition: an acid is a proton (H+ ion) donor, and a base is a proton acceptor;
the Lewis definition: an acrid is an electron acceptor, and a base is an electron donor.

These definitions are illustrated with full general and specific equations in Figures 1 and ii below:

Fig. 1

Self-Test Question #1 Below are shown ii very similar acid/base reactions:

In each case, decide which of the reactants is a base, and which is an acid. Likewise make up one's mind which procedure is a Lewis acid/base reaction, but is not a Bronsted-Lowry acrid/base reaction.

Links to Related reading in textbook (McMurry, Organic Chemical science, 4th ed.)

Chapter two, Section 2.half dozen: pages 50-59
Chapter 20: pages 774-801
Chapter 24, Department 24.four: pages 941-945

Links to Related Computer-based Learning Materials

Links to Related Chem TV Files
- Vol.1,Topic four: Functional Groups
- Vol.ii,Topic 4: Carboxylic Acids/Derivatives
- Vol.2,Topic 5: Amines
Links to Related 30 Files
Links to Related yyy Files
Links to Related zzz Files
Related Beaker Menu Fuctions
- Struct, "Functional Groups"
- React, "Hydrogen pKa"
- React, "Perform a Reaction"

Links To Related Internet Resources

Organic Chemistry ConcepTests

| Domicile | Table of Contents | Glossary |

This page was prepared by Derrick Hendricks and Michael Newman of the Penn State University, Schuylkill Campus, Autumn 1996- Spring 1997

Send questions, comments, or suggestions to:
Dr. Thomas H. Eberlein
the1@psu.edu
Copyright � 1996 Thomas H. Eberlein

Version one.2.v, 3/17/97