Lewis acid

noun

Chemistry.

1. any substance capable of forming a covalent bond with a base by accepting a pair of electrons from it.

Lewis acid

noun

1. a substance capable of accepting a pair of electrons from a base to form a covalent bond Compare Lewis base

Word History and Origins

Origin of Lewis acid¹

First recorded in 1940–45; named after G. N. Lewis

Word History and Origins

Origin of Lewis acid¹

C20: named after G. N. Lewis (1875–1946), US chemist

Example Sentences

They found that adding a key ingredient could help: a chemical known as a Lewis acid added to the liquid solution redirected those molecules.

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Ion pairing with a chiral carbon–based counterion renders silyl Lewis acid catalysis asymmetric.

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Ion pairing with a chiral carbon–based counterion renders silyl Lewis acid catalysis asymmetric.

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The scientists designed a MOF with a similar structure, but they replaced the zinc with zirconium, which likewise behaves as a Lewis acid and makes for an ultrastable MOF.

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Then a second—a chiral Lewis acid—catalyst directs the product stereochemistry.

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