In: Chemistry
What is the Lewis acid in the following reaction?
Fe3+(aq) + 6 CN-(aq) ⇄ Fe(CN)63-(aq)
Fe3+(aq) |
HCN(aq) |
CN-(aq) |
Fe(CN)63-(aq) |
Fe(OH3(aq) |
According to the definition of Lewis acid, an ion / metal centre / compound which can accept the election pair from an electron donating substance, that is known as Lewis acid. Simply Lewis acid is electron acceptor.
Now in the above example, Fe 3+ acts as Lewis acid, because it is electron deficient metal centre. H + is also a Lewis acid, and it also comes into the class of Bronsted acid.