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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Lewis, Brønsted Lowry, And Arrhenius Definitions
Identify the Bronsted-Lowry acid in the following equation:
Recall that a Bronsted-Lowry acid donates a proton. From the equation, we can see that becomes , which it lost an , or a proton. Thus, water must be the Bronsted-Lowry acid.
Example Question #2 : Lewis, Brønsted Lowry, And Arrhenius Definitions
Identify the Lewis Base in the following reaction:
Recall that a Lewis base accepts a proton, while a Lewis acid donates a proton. Looking at the equation, we can see that becomes . Since accepted a proton, it must be the Lewis base.
Example Question #3 : Lewis, Brønsted Lowry, And Arrhenius Definitions
Which type of acid is defined by its ability to produce hydrogen ions in aqueous solution?
Bronsted-Lowry acid
None of these
Lewis acid
Arrhenius acid
Arrhenius acid
There are three main definitions for acids and bases: the Lewis acids and bases, Bronsted-Lowry acids and bases, and Arrhenius acids and bases.
A Lewis acid is a species which can accept an electron pair from a donor. An example of a Lewis acid is ; as a cation, it can accept an electron pair. A Lewis base is a species which can donate an electron pair. An example of a Lewis base is ; as an anion, it can donate an electron pair.
A Bronsted-Lowry acid is a species which can donate a proton. An example of a Bronsted-Lowry acid is , which can donate its hydrogen ion. A Bronsted-Lowry base is a species which can accept a proton from a donor. An example of a Bronsted-Lowry base is , which can accept a hydrogen ion in order to become water.
An Arrhenius acid is a species which releases hydrogen ions into solution. An example of an Arrhenius acid is . When this compound dissolves in aqueous solution, it produces and . An Arrhenius base is a species which releases hydroxide ions into solution. An example of an Arrhenius base is . When this compound dissolves in aqueous solution, it produces and .
Example Question #34 : Acid Base Reactions
What is the pH of a solution?
PH is defined as , where is hydronium concentration). In order to do this we simply take :
=
Example Question #32 : Acid Base Reactions
According to the Brønsted-Lowry definition of acids and bases, which species in the reaction are acids?
There are no acids in the reaction
Remember a Brønsted-Lowry acid is defined as a proton donor.
In the forward reaction, is a proton donor. In the backward reaction, is the proton donor.
The acids in this reaction are and .