Acid and Base Definitions
- Acid: A proton (
) donor. - Base: A proton (
) acceptor.
Examiner's Tip
In exams, always use the word “proton” rather than “hydrogen ion”. It shows a higher level of theoretical understanding.
The Mechanism
Acids and bases do not exist in isolation. For something to act as an acid (donate
Example 1: Dissolving Acid in Water
donates a proton to water. accepts the proton (acting as a base).
Example 2: Reaction between Ammonia and HCl
donates a proton accepts the proton using the one pair on the nitrogen atom.