Example of a substance that is a Bronsted-Lowry, but not Arrhenius

In summary, a Bronsted-Lowry acid is a substance that can donate a proton in a chemical reaction, while an Arrhenius acid specifically refers to substances that produce H+ ions in aqueous solutions. One example of a Bronsted-Lowry acid that is not an Arrhenius acid is ammonia (NH3). Bronsted-Lowry acids have the ability to donate protons in non-aqueous solutions and do not necessarily contain hydrogen, while Arrhenius acids are limited to aqueous solutions and must contain hydrogen. It is possible for a substance to be both a Bronsted-Lowry acid and an Arrhenius acid, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl). Bronsted-Lowry bases can
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pinkyjoshi65
260
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Could someone give and example of a substance that is a Bronsted-Lowry base, but not an Arrhenius base..
 
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  • #2
Ammonia (NH3)

Accepts a proton (Bronsted-Lowry), yet does not disassociate hydroxide ions into water (not Arrhenius)
 
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no think about Lewis acids/bases
 
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astro_kat said:
no think about Lewis acids/bases

Lewis bases are defined as being able to donate a pair of electrons, ammonia also falls into this category... is that what you mean?

NH3 is generally regarded as not an Arrhenius base since it autoionizes and is amphoteric:

NH3 + NH3 ⇄ NH4+ + NH2-
 
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FAQ: Example of a substance that is a Bronsted-Lowry, but not Arrhenius

What is a Bronsted-Lowry acid and how is it different from an Arrhenius acid?

A Bronsted-Lowry acid is a substance that is capable of donating a proton (H+) in a chemical reaction. This definition is more general than that of an Arrhenius acid, which only refers to substances that produce H+ ions in aqueous solutions. This means that while all Arrhenius acids are also Bronsted-Lowry acids, the reverse is not necessarily true.

Can you give an example of a substance that is a Bronsted-Lowry acid, but not an Arrhenius acid?

One example of a substance that fits this description is ammonia (NH3). While it can act as a Bronsted-Lowry acid by donating a proton in a reaction, it does not produce H+ ions in aqueous solutions and therefore does not meet the criteria for an Arrhenius acid.

What are some properties of Bronsted-Lowry acids that make them different from Arrhenius acids?

One major difference is that Bronsted-Lowry acids can donate protons in non-aqueous solutions, while Arrhenius acids are limited to aqueous solutions. Additionally, Bronsted-Lowry acids do not necessarily have to contain hydrogen, whereas Arrhenius acids must contain hydrogen and produce H+ ions in solution.

Is it possible for a substance to be a Bronsted-Lowry acid and an Arrhenius acid at the same time?

Yes, it is possible for a substance to fit both definitions. For example, hydrochloric acid (HCl) can act as a Bronsted-Lowry acid by donating a proton, and it also produces H+ ions in aqueous solutions, meeting the criteria for an Arrhenius acid.

How are Bronsted-Lowry bases different from Arrhenius bases?

Similar to acids, Bronsted-Lowry bases have a broader definition than Arrhenius bases. They are substances that can accept a proton in a chemical reaction, while Arrhenius bases only refer to substances that produce OH- ions in aqueous solutions. This means that all Arrhenius bases are also Bronsted-Lowry bases, but not all Bronsted-Lowry bases are Arrhenius bases.

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