Is H+ a lewis acid?

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Answer 1 · 2016-01-15T16:42:26

#H^+# is a Lewis acid in that it is an electron pair acceptor.

On the other hand, a Lewis base is an electron pair donor (e.g. #HO^-#).

The protium species accepts a pair of electrons from hydroxide in the aqueous acid base rxn:

#H^+ + HO^(-) rarr H_2O(l)#

Which is the Lewis acid; which is the Lewis base?

Alternatively:

#AlCl_3(aq) + Cl^(-) rarr AlCl_4^-#

Which is the Lewis acid; which is the Lewis base?