2.5.1

Brønsted-Lowry Acids & Bases (A2 Only)

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Brønsted-Lowry Acids and Bases

The chemists Brønsted and Lowry defined what an acid-base reaction is.

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Brønsted-Lowry acids

  • A Brønsted-Lowry acid is a proton donor. This means that it gives up H+ ions in solutions. Examples of Brønsted-Lowry acids are:
    • Hydrochloric acid.
    • Sulfuric acid.
    • Phosphoric acid.
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Brønsted-Lowry bases

  • A Brønsted-Lowry base is a proton acceptor. This means that it accepts H+ ions in solutions. Examples of Brønsted-Lowry bases are:
    • Sodium hydroxide.
    • Potassium hydroxide.
    • Ammonia.
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Acid/base equilibria

  • Brønsted-Lowry acids need something to give protons to - you don’t get free H+ ions.
  • When you add HCl to water, the water molecules act like a base and accept protons from the HCl. The equation is:
    • HCl + H2O → H3O+ + Cl
    • The H3O+ ion is called a ‘hydronium’ ion.

Jump to other topics

1Physical Chemistry

2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

3Inorganic Chemistry

4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

5Organic Chemistry 1

6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)

6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)

6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)

6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)

6.5Amines (A2 Only)

6.6Polymers (A2 Only)

6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)

6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)

6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)

6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2

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