Answer to Question #130076 in General Chemistry for Rosie Khan

Question

Is it possible that SnCl2 acts as a lewis acid and lewis base at the same time and if so, an example of this reaction?

Answer 1

Lewis theory uses electrons instead of proton transfer and specifically states that an acid is a species which accepts an electron pair while a base donates a pair of electrons.

The product of a reaction between a Lewis acid and a Lewis base is therefore a covalent bond.

$SnCl_2$ has electron deficiency hence only a Lewis base. The presence of two chloride atoms increases the electron deficiency even further. The chloride centre is electron rich hence donates electrons instead.