Consider the reaction: SO2 + OH- S HSO3 -. Which reaction scheme shows the correct use of the curved arrow notation representing the donation of an electron pair and the correct labeling of the Lewis acid and Lewis base? (LO 16.14) (a) (b) (c) (d)

Lewis acids are substances that can accept an electron pair, while Lewis bases are those that can donate an electron pair. In the given reaction, SO2 acts as a Lewis acid because it accepts an electron pair from the hydroxide ion (OH-), which serves as the Lewis base by donating its electron pair.

Curved arrow notation is a visual representation used in organic chemistry to illustrate the movement of electron pairs during chemical reactions. The tail of the arrow indicates the source of the electron pair (the Lewis base), while the head points to the atom that will receive the electrons (the Lewis acid), helping to clarify the mechanism of the reaction.

A reaction mechanism describes the step-by-step process by which reactants are converted into products. Understanding the mechanism involves identifying the roles of different species, such as the Lewis acid and base, and how they interact through electron transfer, which is crucial for accurately depicting the reaction using curved arrows.