Theories on Acids and Bases

Properties of Acids and Bases Acids (1.) Have a sour taste (2.) Turn blue litmus to red. (3.) React with active metals to produce H2 gas. (For metals above H in the activity series of metals) (4.) React with metal oxides and metal hydroxides to form salt and water. (NEUTRALIZATION REACTION) Bases (1.) Have a bitter taste. (2.) Turn red litmus to blue (3.) Slippery when rubbed between fingertips. (4.) React with protonic acids to form salts and water (NEUTRALIZATION REACTION)

I. Arrhenius Theory of Acids and Bases

[1887] Swedish Chemist Svante Arrhenius proposed his Chemical theory of electrolytes, which states that electrolytes dissociate into ions in water solution. On this basis he gives the definition: Acids as a compound that produces H+ (aq) in water. Bases as a compound that produces OH- (aq) in water.

The strength of an acid or a base is determined by the extent that the compound dissociates in water.

Acidic oxides or Acid anhydrides - Oxides of nonmetals form acids when dissolved in water. HCl (g) + H2O H+ (aq) + Cl- (aq) N2O5 (g) + H2O 2 H+ (aq) + 2 NO3 2- (aq) SO3 (g) + H2O 2 H+ (aq) + SO4 2- (aq) Basic Oxides or Base anhydrides - Oxides of metals dissolve in water to form hydroxides Na2O (s) + H2O 2 Na+ (aq) + 2 OH- (aq) MgO (s) + H2O Mg2+ (aq) + 2 OH- (aq)
General formula for neutralization: HX (aq) + MOH (aq) HOH + MX (aq)

Limitation of Arrhenius theory: The Arrhenius theory of acid-base behavior is satisfactory only in explaining reactions of protonic acids (those containing acidic hydrogen atoms) and with metal hydroxides (hydroxy bases). Example: Ammonia solution, NH3 (aq) is a weak base.
NH3 (g) + H2O NH4
+

(aq)

OH- (aq)

II. Bronsted Lowry Theory

Bronsted

Lowry

[1923] A Danish chemist Johannes Bronsted and an English chemist Thomas Lowry, independently presented logical extensions of the Arrhenius theory. Acids is a substance that can donate a proton (H+) <proton donor> Bases is a substance that can accept a proton (H+) <proton acceptor> Neutralization Reaction is a transfer of proton from the acid to the base.

 By Arrhenius definition, water is neither a base nor an acid. But by Bronsted Lowry definitions, water can act as a base and as an acid.
AMPHIPROTIC SUBSTANCES substances that can function as acids or bases (Ex. H2O, NH3, HSO4 -, HPO4 2-) CONJUGATE ACID-BASE PAIRS are species that differ by a proton.

III. Lewis theory

[1938] An American chemist Gilbert N. Lewis proposed a broader concept of acids and bases which liberated acid-base phenomena from the proton or the hydronium ion H3O+. Acid is a substance that can form a covalent bond by accepting an electron pair from a base. <electron pair acceptor> Base is a substance that has unshared electron pair with which it can form a covalent bond with an atom, molecule, or ion. Acid-Base Neutralization is the covalent bond formation. Lewis acids (1) Molecules or atoms that have incomplete octets. (2) Cations of transition metals (3) Compounds that have central atoms capable expanding their valence shells.

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