Acid Base Theories: Bronsted-Lowry vs Lewis

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the effectiveness of the Brønsted-Lowry and Lewis theories of acids and bases in practical applications. Brønsted-Lowry is favored for its ability to provide quantitative predictions, unlike Lewis theory, which is seen as primarily qualitative and inconsistent in establishing a definitive acidity scale. The Brønsted-Lowry theory maintains consistent acid strength rankings across different solvents, whereas Lewis theory can yield contradictory results based on the chosen reference base. The conversation also references Adam Hulanicki's book on acids and bases in analytical chemistry for further insights, though some participants express difficulty in accessing it and seek alternative book recommendations.
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what theories out of the major two ( Bronsted-Lowry Theory of acids and bases and The Lewis Theory of acids and bases) should we use in common problems, and which one is more reliable ?
 
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Brønsted-Lowry. Lewis theory doesn't give a way to make quantitative predictions.
 
Borek, despite agreeing with your answer, I'm puzzled with its justification. In which cases would Bronsted-Lowry give a quantitative prediction (and Lewis' theory would fail to do so)?

I always thought that Arrhenius, Bronsted-Lowry and Lewis were all entirely qualitative definitions - simply defining what an acid and a base were and giving an idea of which reactions where possible.
 
It is not possible to use Lewis theory to create unambiguous acidity scale. Acid strength can be only determined relative to the selected base (and vice versa), and quite often it happens that depending on the selected base results are opposite (what seems to be a stronger base becomes a weak base after selecting different base as a reference point). In the case of Brønsted-Lowry this is not a problem, even if you move to different solvent relative strengths of acids are identical (or at least their ordering doesn't change - what was stronger is still stronger). In a way that's because proton gives a reference point, but proton presence (or autodissociation of a protic solvent) is one of the theory assumptions.

Try to find Adam Hulanicki's book Reactions of acids and bases in analytical chemistry for some more details (I guess it is n ot a problem to find discussion in other sources, this one I have here so I know it addresses the problem).
 
As always, Borek makes me learn something new!

Sadly, I couldn't find the book you suggested on my college's libraries. Do you have any other suggestions for books on the subject?
 
Acut said:
Do you have any other suggestions for books on the subject?

Sorry, no. I don't have an easy access to the library so I have to work with what I have at home.
 

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