High School Chemistry : Acids and Bases

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Chemistry

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Definitions Of Acids And Bases

What is a triprotic acid?

Possible Answers:

An acid that accepts an electron pair

An acid that donates an electron pair

An acid with one ionizable hydrogen

An acid with three ionizable hydrogens

An acid with two ionizable hydrogens

Correct answer:

An acid with three ionizable hydrogens

Explanation:

Acids have hydrogen ions and balanced charges. "Tri" tells us that the acid has three potential hydrogen ions. Once ionized, a hydrogen turns into a proton, hence, protic. An example of a triprotic acid is phosphoric acid 

Example Question #12 : Definitions Of Acids And Bases

What is a monoprotic acid?

Possible Answers:

An acid with one ionizable hydrogen

An acid with two ionizable hydrogens

A really weak base

An acid with three ionizable hydrogens

Any acid with more than 2 ionizable hydrogens

Correct answer:

An acid with one ionizable hydrogen

Explanation:

Acids have hydrogens that can dissociate into solution. In this case, the word "mono" tells us that there is only one potential hydrogen ion in that acid; so only one hydrogen ion can be ionized from that acid. A diprotic acid, such as  has two ionizable hydrogens.

Example Question #13 : Definitions Of Acids And Bases

What is a polyprotic acid?

Possible Answers:

An acid with two ionizable hydrogens

An acid with one ionizable hydrogen

An acid with three ionizable hydrogens

An acid that increases the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution

Any acid with more than two ionizable hydrogens

Correct answer:

Any acid with more than two ionizable hydrogens

Explanation:

By definition, a polyprotic acid is one that has more than two ionizable hydrogens.

Example Question #11 : Acids And Bases

Which of the following substances are amphoteric?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Remember: amphoteric means that the substance can act as either an acid or a base. Using the Bronsted-Lowry definition of acids and bases (acids donate hydrogens and bases accept hydrogens) we find that  is the only compound that can give up a hydrogen (and be left with ), or accept a hydrogen (and become ).

Example Question #14 : Definitions Of Acids And Bases

According to the Arrhenius definition __________.

Possible Answers:

acids increase the concentration of hydroxide ions in a solution

bases increase the concentration of hydroxide ions in a solution

bases accept electron pairs

acids are hydroxide donors

acids accept electron pairs

Correct answer:

bases increase the concentration of hydroxide ions in a solution

Explanation:

According to the Arrhenius definition, bases increase the concentration of hydroxide ions in a solution.

Example Question #15 : Definitions Of Acids And Bases

According to the Arrhenius definition, acids __________.

Possible Answers:

Acids are proton acceptors

Acids increase the concentration of hydroxide ions in a solution

Acids are hydrogen donors

Acids are hydroxide donors

Acids increase the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution

Correct answer:

Acids increase the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution

Explanation:

According to the Arrhenius definition, acids increase the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.

Example Question #11 : Acid Base Chemistry

What is the Bronsted-Lowry definition of acids?

Possible Answers:

Acids are electron pair donors

Acids are electron pair acceptors

Acids are amphoteric

Acids are hydrogen acceptors

Acids are hydrogen donors

Correct answer:

Acids are hydrogen donors

Explanation:

According to the Bronsted-Lowry definition, acids are hydrogen donors.

Example Question #11 : Acid Base Chemistry

What is the definition of a Bronsted-Lowry base?

Possible Answers:

Hydrogen donors

Hydrogen acceptors

Electron pair donors

Increases the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution

Electron pair acceptors

Correct answer:

Hydrogen acceptors

Explanation:

According to the Bronsted-Lowry definition, bases are hydrogen acceptors.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Acids And Bases

Which of the following will result when a base and an acid react with one another?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Acids are able to donate protons whereas bases can donate hydroxyl groups. The general acid-base reaction will be a double-replacement reaction in which the proton of the acid binds the hydroxide of thee base, and the cation of the base binds the anion of the acid to form a salt. The products of this reaction are a salt and water. This is called a neutralization reaction.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Acids And Bases

What is the conjugate base of nitric acid ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Every acid has a conjugate base and every base has a conjugate acid. For any acid, the conjugate base is the negatively charged ion that is created when the acid dissociates in solution.

Nitric acid dissociates in solution based on the following reaction:

The nitrate ion, , is created following the dissociation of nitric acid. This means that the nitrate ion is the conjugate base of nitric acid. 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors