Question

consider the reaction and indicate which reactant is the lewis acid and which is the lewis base.
chemical reaction image
identify the true statement(s).
□ fecl₃ is the lewis acid.
□ this not a lewis acid - base reaction.
□ ch₃cocl is the lewis base.
□ ch₃cocl is the lewis acid.
□ fecl₃ is the lewis base.

Explanation:

A Lewis acid is an electron-pair acceptor, and a Lewis base is an electron-pair donor. In the reaction, $\text{FeCl}_3$ accepts a pair of electrons from the chloride ion of $\text{CH}_3\text{COCl}$ (forming $\text{FeCl}_4^-$), so $\text{FeCl}_3$ is the Lewis acid. $\text{CH}_3\text{COCl}$ donates an electron pair, so it acts as the Lewis base. This fits the definition of a Lewis acid-base reaction.

Answer:

$\text{FeCl}_3$ is the Lewis acid.
$\text{CH}_3\text{COCl}$ is the Lewis base.