PEAZIT Aha card
Go straight to resources ↓Acids and bases: follow the proton
In the Brønsted model an acid donates H⁺ and a base accepts it. The role depends on the reaction: water can play either role.
| Observation | What it means |
|---|---|
| HCl + H₂O → H₃O⁺ + Cl⁻ | HCl donates a proton |
| NH₃ + H₂O ⇌ NH₄⁺ + OH⁻ | NH₃ accepts a proton |
One worked example
- HCl → Cl⁻HCl loses H⁺: it is the acid.
- H₂O → H₃O⁺Water gains H⁺: it is the base.
- H₃O⁺ + OH⁻ → 2H₂ONeutralisation converts these ions into water.
Watch out: Strong is not the same as concentrated. These equations describe particles, not instructions for mixing chemicals.
Goal, prerequisites and card origin
What you will learn: Distinguish a donor from an acceptor of H⁺.
What you need first: Formulas and ions.
An original PEAZIT working card. Independent expert review and effectiveness testing have not yet taken place. · v1
Reference for the underlying principle ↗Show connections
In the Brønsted model an acid donates H⁺ and a base accepts it. The role depends on the reaction: water can play either role.