DP Chemistry Questionbank

Describe, in terms of the electrons involved, how the bond between a ligand and a central metal ion is formed.

Which species is a Lewis acid but not a Brønsted–Lowry acid?

A.  ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{2+}$

B.  ${{\mathrm{NH}}_4}^{+}$

C.  $\mathrm{Cu}$

D.  ${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}$

Write an equation to show ammonia, NH₃, acting as a Brønsted–Lowry base and a different equation to show it acting as a Lewis base.

Magnesium salts form slightly acidic solutions owing to equilibria such as:

Mg²⁺(aq) + H₂O (l) $\rightleftharpoons$ Mg(OH)⁺(aq) + H⁺(aq)

Comment on the role of Mg²⁺ in forming the Mg(OH)⁺ ion, in acid-base terms.

The reaction of the hydroxide ion with carbon dioxide and with the hydrogencarbonate ion can be represented by Equations 3 and 4.

Equation (3)     OH⁻ (aq) + CO₂ (g) → HCO₃⁻ (aq)
Equation (4)     OH⁻ (aq) + HCO₃⁻ (aq) → H₂O (l) + CO₃²⁻ (aq)

Discuss how these equations show the difference between a Lewis base and a Brønsted–Lowry base.

Equation (3):

Equation (4):

Examine the relationship between the Brønsted–Lowry and Lewis definitions of a base, referring to the ligands in the complex ion [CuCl₄]²⁻.