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