6.1.1

Brønsted-Lowry Theory

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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.
Illustrative background for Brønsted-Lowry basesIllustrative background for Brønsted-Lowry bases ?? "content

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.
  • So, water plays an important role in aqueous reactions involving acids.
  • Water is able to accept protons and then donate them to other species.
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Conjugate pairs

  • The concept of conjugate pairs is useful in describing Brønsted-Lowry acid-base reactions.
  • When an acid donates H+, the species that remains is called the conjugate base of the acid.
    • This is because it reacts as a proton acceptor in the reverse reaction.
  • Likewise, when a base accepts H+, it is converted to its conjugate acid.
Illustrative background for Conjugate pairs - exampleIllustrative background for Conjugate pairs - example ?? "content

Conjugate pairs - example

  • The reaction between water and ammonia illustrates the idea of conjugate pairs.
    • In the forward direction, water (H2O) acts as an acid by donating a proton to ammonia.
    • Water subsequently becomes a hydroxide ion, OH, the conjugate base of water.
  • The ammonia (NH3 acts as a base in accepting this proton, becoming an ammonium ion, (NH4+), the conjugate acid of ammonia.
    • In the reverse direction, a hydroxide ion acts as a base in accepting a proton from ammonium ion, which acts as an acid.

Jump to other topics

1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter

2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure

3Structure - Classification of Matter

3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements

3.2Periodic Trends

3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals

3.4Halogens

3.5Noble gases, group 18

3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic

3.7Functional Group Chemistry

3.8Alkanes

3.9Alcohols

3.10Halogenoalkanes

4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?

5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?

6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change

7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis

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