having trouble with a simple question...

[pandalove89]

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I don't know why I am getting so confused with this concept. For both AlCl3 and BCl3, I know that they are lewis acids because they can accept electron pairs....but why? Al and B both want 6 electron pairs in its valence shell so why would they want to accept more electrons?

 

[BerrF12]

Just memorize that AlCl3 is a Lewis Acid. I feel like that shows up all over the place. And don't forget that elements from the 3rd period and down can accept more elections if they need to. Sorry this might not be a good explanation, but I hope it helps :/

 

[needzmoar]

I don't know why I am getting so confused with this concept. For both AlCl3 and BCl3, I know that they are lewis acids because they can accept electron pairs....but why? Al and B both want 6 electron pairs in its valence shell so why would they want to accept more electrons?

needz moar electrons. That is, they lack a full octet. Yes, they are both neutral with 6 electrons but they are still chemically reactive.

 

[spoog74]

I don't know why I am getting so confused with this concept. For both AlCl3 and BCl3, I know that they are lewis acids because they can accept electron pairs....but why? Al and B both want 6 electron pairs in its valence shell so why would they want to accept more electrons?

most species want a full octet. Period.

 

[pandalove89]

most species want a full octet. Period.

durr. don't know what i was thinking. thanks

 

[Golfguy]

most species want a full octet. Period.

I believe B and Al are octet violators, they want 6 electrons in their outer shell. Starting with 3 each. But Al exists as Al3+, which allows it to accept 6 electrons by coordinate covalent bonding, thus acting as a lewis acid.