Concepts of acids and Bases
Arrhenius Concept of Acids and Bases
In 1887, Swedish chemist Savante Arhenius proposed the first successful theory of acers and bases according to this theory:
An acid is a substance that ionizes in water to produce H+ ions and a base is a substance that ionizes in water to produce OH- ions.
For example,
HCl ----> H+ + Cl-
NaOH ------> Na+ + OH-
Some common acids
Name Formula common use
Hydrochloric acid HCl cleaning of metals, bricks and removingscale from boiler
Nitric acis HNO3 manufacturing of fertilizers, explosives
Sulphuric acid H2SO4 manufacturing of many chemicals,drugs dyes and explosives
Phosphoric acid H3PO4 manufacturing of fertilizers, acidulant for food
Some common Bases
Name Formula common use
Sodium hydroxide NaOH Soap making, drain cleaner
Potassium hydroxide KOH Making liquid soap, shaving cream
Calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 Making mortor, plaster, cement
Magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH)2 Antacid, laxative.
Limitations of Arhenius concept
Arhenius theory has its limitations. It applies to aqueous solutions.
It does not explain:
Why compounds such as CO2, SO2 etc are acids as there no H in these compounds.
Why substances like NH3 are bases as there is no OH in it.
Bronsted-Lowery concept of Acids and Bases
In 1923, J N Bronsted and TM Lowery independently proposed another theory to overcome limitations of Arhenius theory of acids and Bases. This theory is known as Bronsted-Lowery theory
According to this theory, an acid is a pron donor and a base is a proton acceptor.
For example,
H-Cl + H-O-H ------------> H3O+ + Cl-
Acid Base
NH3 + H2O --------------> NH4+ + OH-
Base Acid
Lewis concept of Acids and Bases
1923, G. N. Lewis proposed an acid base theory that focuses on reaction. This concept is more general than either the Arhenius theory or Bronsted-Lowery theory.
According to this concept,
A Lewis acid is substance that can accept a pair of electron to from a coordinate covalent bond.
A Lewis base s substance that can donate a pair of electron to from a coordinate covalent bond.
For example,
H- Cl + H3N: ---------> H4N+ + Cl-
Electron Electron
pair acceptor pair donor
H- Cl + H2O: ---------> H3O+ + Cl-
Electron Electron
pair acceptor pair donor
Example 10.2: Classify substances as Lewis acids or Lewis bases
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