Lewis on Lewis Acids and Bases
Me: Gilbert Lewis of Lewis Structure fame is skyping in. How are you Dr. Lewis?
GNLewis: I am great. I understand you are talking about acids and bases with your class. I want to make sure you mention my definitions: A Lewis acid is any molecule or ion that can form a new bond by accepting a pair of electrons, and a Lewis base is any molecule or ion that can form a new bond by donating a pair of electrons. Lewis acids accept electron pairs, Lewis bases donate electron pairs and bonds form. Notice two things. First, my definition includes the older Bronsted definition of acids and bases if you think of a proton as the Lewis acid. Second, this is a good way to think of the reactions you will soon learn about, but you will call the Lewis acid an electrophile and the Lewis base a nucleophile. The concept is the same and it will explain almost all of the reactions you will learn!
Me: Dr. Lewis, you were the first to understand the covalent bond, we still use your structures, you defined acids and bases and even explained glow-in-the dark molecules for the first time. How come you never won a Nobel prize?
GNLewis: Ouch, thanks for bringing that up. I was nominated 41 straight years but never won because I made professional enemies of several people who vote. I know dumb, burning bridges and all that. Peace out from here.
