Use the Lewis acid-base model to explain the following reaction. $$\mathrm{CO}_{2}(g)+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l) \longrightarrow \mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{CO}_{3}(a q)$$

Short Answer

Expert verified
In the given reaction, CO2 acts as a Lewis acid (electron-pair acceptor) and H2O acts as a Lewis base (electron-pair donor). The oxygen atom in the water molecule donates an electron pair to the carbon atom in the carbon dioxide molecule, forming a new bond and resulting in the formation of carbonic acid (H2CO3) in aqueous form. The reaction can be summarized as: \( \mathrm{CO}_{2}(g) \, \text{(Lewis acid)} + \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l) \, \text{(Lewis base)} \longrightarrow \mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{CO}_{3}(a q) \).

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Lewis acid and base

To apply the Lewis acid-base model, first identify the Lewis acid and base in the given reaction. A Lewis acid is an electron-pair acceptor, while a Lewis base is an electron-pair donor. Here, CO2 is the Lewis acid, and H2O is the Lewis base.
02

Analyze the electron-pair donation and acceptance

In the reaction, the Lewis base (H2O) donates an electron pair, while the Lewis acid (CO2) accepts the electron pair. The oxygen atom in the water molecule has two lone electron pairs that can be donated. On the other hand, the carbon atom in the carbon dioxide molecule has empty orbitals that can accept electron pairs.
03

Formation of the product

As the Lewis base (H2O) donates an electron pair to the Lewis acid (CO2), a new bond is formed between the oxygen atom of the water molecule and the carbon atom of the carbon dioxide molecule. This results in the formation of carbonic acid (H2CO3), which exists in aqueous form (aq). The reaction can be summarized as follows: \( \mathrm{CO}_{2}(g) \, \text{(Lewis acid)} + \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l) \, \text{(Lewis base)} \longrightarrow \mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{CO}_{3}(a q) \).

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