Question

Can a substance be both a Lewis base and a Bronsted-Lowry base? Can you explain in detail?

Answer 1

Yes, a substance can be both a Lewis base and a Bronsted-Lowry base.

A Lewis base is a substance that can donate a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond. This definition is more general than that of a Bronsted-Lowry base, which is a substance that can accept a proton (H+ ion).

In the case of a substance that can act as both a Lewis base and a Bronsted-Lowry base, it can donate a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond, and at the same time, it can accept a proton (H+ ion) by forming a covalent bond with it.

For example, ammonia (NH3) can act as a Lewis base by donating a pair of electrons to form a coordinate covalent bond with a Lewis acid, such as a metal ion. It can also act as a Bronsted-Lowry base by accepting a proton (H+ ion) to form the ammonium ion (NH4+).

In summary, a substance can be both a Lewis base and a Bronsted-Lowry base if it has a lone pair of electrons that can be donated to form a covalent bond, and it can also accept a proton (H+ ion) to form a covalent bond.