Lewis Acid

A species which is able to to accept a pair of electrons.

Examples: H+, AlCl3.

Within the framework of this definition, an acid-base reaction corresponds to the formation of a covalent bond by the transfer of a pair of electrons.

Lewis Base

A species which can donate a pair of electrons. It is a nucleophilic reagent.

Examples: NH3, H2O.

Gilbert Newton Lewis

An American physical chemist (1875-1946). He defined the covalent bond as resulting from sharing a pair of electrons. He also developed a theory of acids and bases.

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