How do we know whether a given species can act as a Lewis base or a Lewis acid?

1 Answer
anor277
May 12, 2016

You do an experiment.

Explanation:

Chemistry is still an experimental science. Notions of Lewis acidity/Lewis basicity are all very well. These notions are generalizations that account for observed chemical behaviour. So does the given species accept an electron pair? I don't know. Because I haven't done the experiment.

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