Why is HF Not a Lewis Base and MgBr2 a Lewis Acid?

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HF is not considered a Lewis base primarily due to the strong electronegativity of fluorine, which holds onto its electrons tightly, preventing effective donation. Although F- has lone pairs, the hydrogen in HF is weakly bonded and can participate in proton donation, allowing HF to act as a Lewis acid in certain contexts. MgBr2 is classified as a Lewis acid because it can accept electron pairs, while lacking the ability to donate electrons, thus not qualifying as a Lewis base. The behavior of these compounds can vary depending on the reaction environment, such as in aqueous solutions where HF behaves as a stronger acid. Overall, the classification of HF and MgBr2 hinges on their interactions and the specific chemical context.
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why's HF not a lewis base? doesn't F- have lone pairs which could be used to donate electrons?
why's MgBr2 a Lewis acid and not a lewis base?
 
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well to start with, since F has three lone pairs, it would seem to be a good explanation, except that it is so electronegative that most of the time, electron of hydrogen are with F instead, giving it a dipole moment. A Lewis acid is when it can accept electrons or donate protons, in this case it could do that because hydrogen is just hanging there barely (F is so negative that the hydrogen bond can easily break).
 
Depends on what context you're referring to. HF can act as a lewis base, when it participates in intermolecular hydrogen bonding (and a lewis acid in this case). The LUMO on the hydrogen will interact with the HOMO on the Flourine.

In aqueous solutions, and in the case of its reaction with water, it's an acid, that is the stronger acid.

In either case you've got to consider what the compound is reacting with.
 
thank you very much! ^^
 
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