Why can ethanol be considered both a Lewis acid and a Lewis base?

1 Answer
Apr 9, 2018

because, like water, it can both accept and donate lone electron pairs

Explanation:

Ethanol acting as Lewis acid :accepting electron pair

#CH_3CH_2OH# +# B:^-# #-># #CH_3CH_2O^-#+ #BH#

in this case the hydroxyl proton receives the electron pair from a strong base, producing the ethylate anion.

Ethanol acting as Lewis base: donating electron pair

#CH_3CH_2OH# + #H^+# #-># #CH_3CH_2OH_2^+#

in this case the hydroxyl oxigen gives an electron pair to a strong acid, producing a protonated alcohol