Lewis acid

American  

noun

Chemistry.

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

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Lewis acid British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of Lewis acid

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

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.

From Science Daily

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

From Science Magazine

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

From Science Magazine

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.

From Science Magazine

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

From Science Magazine