The Brønsted-Lowry Theory of

Acids and Bases

 The Brønsted-Lowry Theory of
Acids and Bases
• In 1923, chemists Johannes Nicolaus
Brønsted and Thomas Martin Lowry
independently developed definitions of
acids and bases based on the compounds'
abilities to either donate or accept protons
( H+ ions).
• In this theory, acids are defined as proton
donors; whereas bases are defined as
proton acceptors. A compound that acts as
both a Brønsted-Lowry acid and base
together is called amphoteric.
• Brønsted-Lowry theory of acid and bases
took the Arrhenius definition one step
further, as a substance no longer needed
to be composed of hydrogen (H+) or
hydroxide (OH-) ions in order to be
classified as an acid or base.
• For example, consider the following
chemical equation:
• Here, hydrochloric acid (HCl) "donates" a proton
(H+) to ammonia (NH3) which "accepts" it ,
forming a positively charged ammonium ion
(NH4+) and a negatively charged chloride ion
(Cl-). Therefore, HCl is a Brønsted-Lowry acid
(donates a proton) while the ammonia is a
Brønsted-Lowry base (accepts a proton). Also,
Cl- is called the conjugate base of the acid HCl
and NH4+ is called the conjugate acid of the
base NH3.
• In this theory, an acid is a substance that
can release a proton and a base is a
substance that can accept a proton. A
basic salt, such as Na+F-, generates OH-
ions in water by taking protons from water
itself (to make HF):
• The determination of a substance as a
Brønsted-Lowery acid or base can only be
done by observing the reaction. In the
case of the HOH it is a base in the first
case and an acid in the second case.
• To determine whether a substance is an
acid or a base, count the hydrogens on
each substance before and after the
reaction. If the number of hydrogens has
decreased that substance is the acid
(donates hydrogen ions). If the number of
hydrogens has increased that substance is
the base (accepts hydrogen ions).
• These definitions are normally applied to
the reactants on the left. If the reaction is
viewed in reverse a new acid and base
can be identified. The substances on the
right side of the equation are called
conjugate acid and conjugate base
compared to those on the left. Also note
that the original acid turns in the conjugate
base after the reaction is over.
Consider This

• When hydrogen chloride is added to water

the following reaction occurs

HCl + H 2O H3O+ + Cl-

Because Because
this donates this
a proton it is accepts a
a B/L acid proton it is
a B/L base
Consider This

• When ammonia gas dissolves in water the

following reaction occurs

NH3 + H2O NH4 + + OH-

Accepts Donates
a proton a proton
B/L base B/L acid
• Water can act as either an acid or a base
and for this reason is known as
amphoteric or amphiprotic
 Advantages of the Bronsted/Lowry Theory
over Arrhenius’ Theory
1. Arrhenius’ theory was confined to
aqueous solutions.
2. Bronsted/Lowry’s theory broadens the
range of species that can be defined as
acids and bases
3. Substances that are not classified as
acids or bases under Arrhenius’ theory
are classified as acids or bases in the
Bronsted/Lowry theory
Note
• An acid will only donate a proton when
there is something there to accept it.
• A base will only accept a proton if there is
something there to donate it.
Consider This

• If the following reaction is written as

CH3COOH + H2O CH3COO- + H3O+
Ethanoic acid Water

This means the reaction

CH3COOH + H2O CH3COO- + H3O+
 Identify the B/L acid in the following Equations
• CH3COOH + H2O CH3COO- + H3O+

• CH3COO- + H3O+ CH3COOH + H2O

• An acid changes to a conjugate base when it
donates a proton

• A base changes to a conjugate acid when it

accepts a proton
• CH3COO- is the conjugate base of CH3COOH
• CH3COOH is the conjugate acid of CH3COO-

Every base has a conjugate acid and every

acid has a conjugate base

Since CH3COO- and CH3COOH only differ by a

proton we refer to them as a conjugate acid
base pair
• N2SO4 (aq) + NH3 (aq) HSO4-(aq) + NH4+ (aq)
The Acid-Base Properties of Water
• Water is amphoteric, it acts as both acid
and base
• An acid is a substance that donates a
proton
• A base is a substance that accepts proton
• Water has the ability to autoionize
• One water molecule can donate a proton
to another water molecule