Question

How do you identify Bronsted-Lowry acids and bases?

Answer 1

Acids drop protons (`H^+`), and bases pick them up.

Explanation:

Bronsted-Lowry theory states that an acid is a molecule that drops `H^+` ions (protons), and a base picks them up again.

For example, in the reaction

`HCl+H_2O->Cl^(-)+H_3O^+`

the hydrochloric acid drops the hydrogen proton, while water picks it up. This means `HCl` acts as an acid and `H_2O` acts as a base.

After the reaction you then have a `Cl^-` ion which can pick up protons, so this is known as a conjugate base, and `H_3O^+` has a new propensity to drop protons, and so is a conjugate acid.