Question

The nitrite anion is a common ligand in complex ion formation. A coordinate-covalent bond within a complex ion is often a Lewis acid/base interaction. Part A: Which species is the Lewis acid? Part B: Which species is the Lewis base?

Answer 1

The Lewis acid in complex ion formation is the species that can accept a pair of electrons and form a coordinate covalent bond. The Lewis base is the species that donates a pair of electrons and forms a coordinate covalent bond with the Lewis acid.

Step-by-step explanation:

In complex ion formation, the species that can accept a pair of electrons and form a coordinate covalent bond is called the Lewis acid. In this case, the nitrite anion would be the Lewis acid. The species that donates a pair of electrons and forms a coordinate covalent bond with the Lewis acid is called the Lewis base. In this case, the ligand that bonds to the nitrite anion would be the Lewis base.