Why is sulfuric acid considered a Bronsted acid?

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Why is sulfuric acid considered a Bronsted acid?

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Answer 1 · 2016-03-28T07:54:04

Because it is a proton donor in aqueous solution.

Explanation:

The first protonation:

$H_{2} S O_{4} (a q) + H_{2} O (l) \to H S O_{4}^{-} + H_{3} O^{+}$ $H_2SO_4(aq) + H_2O(l) rarr HSO_4^(-) + H_3O^+$

This reaction goes to completion in water.

However, the conjugate base of sulfuric acid, bisulfate anion, is itself a reasonably strong Bronsted acid:

$H S O_{4}^{-} + H_{2} O \to S O_{4}^{2 -} + H_{3} O^{+}$ $HSO_4^(-) + H_2O rarr SO_4^(2-) + H_3O^+$

Overall, $H_{2} S O_{4} (a q) + 2 H_{2} O (l) \to 2 H_{3} O^{+} + S O_{4}^{2 -}$ $H_2SO_4(aq) + 2H_2O(l) rarr 2H_3O^(+) + SO_4^(2-)$

As in any chemical reaction, both MASS and CHARGE are conserved.

PS I once asked a Scandinavian, who was an excellent linguist, what was the difference in pronunciation between $Bronsted$ $"Bronsted"$ , and $"Brønsted"$ . Given that he knew that I am a very poor linguist, he just laughed and said not to bother.

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Why is sulfuric acid considered a Bronsted acid?

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