Which is the Lewis acid, and which is the Lewis base in the following equation: SO2(g) + H2O(l) --> H2SO3(aq)?

1 Answer
Nov 27, 2015

The Lewis acid is the electron pair acceptor; the Lewis base is the electron pair donor.

Explanation:

#SO_2(g) + H_2O(l) rarr H_2SO_3(aq)#

While it is not immediately obvious, it is clear that the sulfur species has accepted a lone pair from the water molecule; so sulfur dioxide is the Lewis acid in this example. A more old-fashioned treatment is to designate sulfur dioxide as the acid anhydride of sulfurous acid, #H_2SO_3#; i.e. sulfurous acid LESS a water molecule is #SO_2# (and anhydride literally means without/sans water).

What do you think would be the result of the same reaction with sulfur trioxide, #SO_3(g)#?

#SO_3(g) + H_2O(l) rarr ??#