How are Lewis acids and bases distinguished from others?
1 Answer
They are "distinguished" from other (older definition) acids and bases by their donation or acceptance of electrons, rather than by the formation of hydrogen ions.
Explanation:
The expansion from the Arrhenius acid-base theory to a more general understanding of proton transfer explained the acid/base behavior of many more compounds than the previous inorganic water-based systems.
In the Lewis theory of acid-base reactions, bases donate pairs of electrons and acids accept pairs of electrons. A Lewis acid is therefore any substance, such as the H+ ion, that can accept a pair of nonbonding electrons. In other words, a Lewis acid is an electron-pair acceptor. A Lewis base is any substance, such as the OH- ion, that can donate a pair of nonbonding electrons. A Lewis base is therefore an electron-pair donor.
http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch11/lewis.php
