How are Bronsted lowry acid and bases defined?
1 Answer
A Brønsted-Lowry acid is any substance (molecule or ion) that can donate a hydrogen ion (
A Brønsted-Lowry base is any species that can accept a hydrogen ion (
Explanation:
In short, acids have the ability to donate protons and bases have the ability to accept protons.
Take the following reaction for example:
Sulfuric acid (
The Brønsted-Lowry theory also introduces the concept of conjugate acid-base pairs. A conjugate acid-base pair are two species that differ by a (
Based on the reaction above, the ammonium ion
(
Here's a tip to let you know which substance is the conjugate acid and which substance is the conjugate base:
A conjugate base has one less (
A conjugate acid has one more (
Here's general depiction of conjugate acid-base pairs:
I really hope this makes sense!