Which statement describes Lewis base?

Which statement describes Lewis base?

• A. A substance that accepts electrons
• B. A substance that donates H+ ions
• C. A substance that donates electrons
• D. A substance that donates OH- ions

Answer: (C)

A Lewis base is an electron-pair donor. In Lewis theory, bases provide a pair of electrons to form a bond with a Lewis acid, which is an electron-pair acceptor. The statement describing a substance that donates electrons captures this idea, since the donated electron pair is what enables the bond formation with the acid (for example, a lone pair on ammonia attacking an electron-deficient boron in boron trifluoride). Other descriptions describe different concepts: accepting electrons would define a Lewis acid, donating protons aligns with Brønsted-Lowry base behavior, and donating hydroxide is a specific case within aqueous acid-base chemistry, not the general Lewis-base definition.

A Lewis base is an electron-pair donor. In Lewis theory, bases provide a pair of electrons to form a bond with a Lewis acid, which is an electron-pair acceptor. The statement describing a substance that donates electrons captures this idea, since the donated electron pair is what enables the bond formation with the acid (for example, a lone pair on ammonia attacking an electron-deficient boron in boron trifluoride). Other descriptions describe different concepts: accepting electrons would define a Lewis acid, donating protons aligns with Brønsted-Lowry base behavior, and donating hydroxide is a specific case within aqueous acid-base chemistry, not the general Lewis-base definition.