* Lewis Acids: Accept electron pairs.
* Lewis Bases: Donate electron pairs.
AlCl3's Structure:
* Aluminum has three valence electrons.
* Chlorine has seven valence electrons.
* In AlCl3, aluminum forms three covalent bonds with chlorine atoms.
* This leaves the aluminum atom with an incomplete octet, making it electron-deficient.
Why AlCl3 is a Lewis Acid:
The electron-deficient aluminum atom in AlCl3 readily accepts an electron pair from a donor molecule, making it a Lewis acid. This is often seen in reactions where AlCl3 acts as a catalyst. For example, it is used in Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation reactions.