Q33 / 180 · KCET 2013 · Chemistry

Identify a species which is not a Bronsted acid but a Lewis acid

  • Correct answer
    A
    $\mathrm{BF}_{3}$
  • B
    $\mathrm{H}_{3}^{+} \mathrm{O}$
  • C
    $\mathrm{NH}_{3}$
  • D
    $\mathrm{HCl}$

Solution

Bronsted defined an acid as a substance, which has a tendency to give a proton $\left(\mathrm{H}^{+}\right)$, on the other hand, Lewis proposed an acid as a substance, which is capable of accepting a pair of electrons. $\mathrm{As} \mathrm{}_{3} \mathrm{H}^{+}$, $\mathrm{NH}_{3}$ and $\mathrm{HCl}$ has $\mathrm{H}^{+}$ions, these are Bronsted acids whereas $\mathrm{BF}_{3}$ is an electron deficiet molecule, thus be have like a Lewis acid, i.e., electron pair acceptor.

Hence, the correct answer is option: 'A'.

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