Question

How can I tell if a compound is an acid or a base? What properties make a compound an acid or base?

Answer 1

acids have ionizable protons while bases have a lone-pair of electrons that can be used to form a bond with a proton.

Answer 2

Im in chem 1411. In layman's terms?

Answer 3

acids have a hydrogen atom that can be removed, bases can accept a hydrogen atom.

Though it's incorrect to say hydrogen atom since it's only a hydrogen nucleus that is being removed or accepted, so it's really just a proton.

Answer 4

Acid \(HA\rightarrow H^++A^-\)

Base \( H^++A^-\rightarrow HA\)

Answer 5

Thanks!

Answer 6

no problem !