Arrhenius acid: generates [H+] in solution , **[H+] and [H3O+] are the same base: generates [OH-] in solution (watch out for alcohols CH3OH, not a base)
Bronsted-Lowry Model
The New York State Regents decide with their infinite wisdom, that the name "Bronsted-Lowry" is no longer important, so they angered all the chemistry teachers and decide to call it "the other acid base theory" on the exam.
acid: anything that donates a [H+] (proton donor)
base: anything that accepts a [H+] (proton acceptor)
acid + base <=> acid + base
HNO2 + H2O <=> NO2- + H3O+
Each acid has a conjugate base and each base has a conjugate acid. These conjugate pairs only differ by a proton. In this example: HNO2 is the acid, H2O is the base, NO2- is the conj. base, and H3O+ is the conj. acid.
The Trick- Pick a compound on the left side of the equation.
Find the similar compound on the other side of the reaction. The species with 1 more Hydrogen is the acid, the one with less is the base.
HNO2 <=> NO2- or H2O <=> H3O+
So HNO2 is the acid. So H3O+ is the acid.
The other is the base.
Past Regents Questions
Aug 2010-26 Which compound is an Arrhenius acid? (1) CaO (3) K2O (2) HCl (4) NH3
28 According to one acid-base theory, water acts as an acid when an H2O molecule (1) accepts an H+(3) accepts an H- (2) donates an H+(4) donates an H-
June 2010-25 Which compound when dissolved in water is an Arrhenius acid? (1) CH3OH (3) NaCl (2) HCl (4) NaOH
26 An acid can be defined as an (1) H+acceptor (3) OH-acceptor (2) H+donor (4) OH-donor
Jan 2010-25 When one compound dissolves in water, the only positive ion produced in the solution is H3O+(aq). This compound is classified as (1) a salt (2) a hydrocarbon (3) an Arrhenius acid (4) an Arrhenius base
Aug 2009-28 One acid-base theory defines a base as an (1) H+donor (3) H donor (2) H+acceptor (4) H acceptor
June 2009-28 One alternate acid-base theory states that an acid is an (1) H+ donor (3) OH- donor (2) H+ acceptor (4) OH- acceptor
Aug 2008-26 The Arrhenius theory explains the behavior of (1) acids and bases (2) alcohols and amines (3) isomers and isotopes (4) metals and nonmetals
Jan 2008-24 Which substance is an Arrhenius acid? (1) Ba(OH)2 (3) H3PO4 (2) CH3COOCH3(4) NaCl
25 Which compound releases hydroxide ions in an aqueous solution? (1) CH3COOH (3) HCl (2) CH3OH (4) KOH
Aug 2007-27 Which compound is an Arrhenius acid? (1) H2SO4 (3) NaOH (2) KCl (4) NH3
Jun 2007-25 An Arrhenius base yields which ion as the only negative ion in an aqueous solution? (1) hydride ion (3) hydronium ion (2) hydrogen ion (4) hydroxide ion
26 According to one acid-base theory, a water molecule acts as an acid when the water molecule (1) accepts an H+ (3) donates an H+ (2) accepts an OH– (4) donates an OH–
Jan 2007-30 Which ion is the only negative ion produced by an Arrhenius base in water? (1) NO3– (3) OH– (2) Cl– (4) H–
June 2008-26 The Arrhenius theory explains the behavior of (1) acids and bases (2) alcohols and amines (3) isomers and isotopes (4) metals and nonmetals
June 2006-26 Which ion is the only negative ion present in an aqueous solution of an Arrhenius base? (1) hydride ion (3) hydronium ion (2) hydrogen ion (4) hydroxide ion
Aug 2006-26 The compound NaOH(s)dissolves in water to yield (1) hydroxide ions as the only negative ions (2) hydroxide ions as the only positive ions (3) hydronium ions as the only negative ions (4) hydronium ions as the only positive ions
June 2005-28 When an Arrhenius acid dissolves in water, the only positive ion in the solution is (1) H+ (3) Na+ (2) Li+ (4) K+
Jan 2006-17 Which substance is an Arrhenius base? (1) KCl (3) KOH (2) CH3Cl (4) CH3OH
Aug 2005-49 How are HNO3(aq)and CH3COOH(aq)similar? (1) They are Arrhenius acids and they turn blue litmus red. (2) They are Arrhenius acids and they turn red litmus blue. (3) They are Arrhenius bases and they turn blue litmus red. (4) They are Arrhenius bases and they turn red litmus blue.
Jan 2005-25 The compound HNO3can be described as an (1) Arrhenius acid and an electrolyte (2) Arrhenius acid and a nonelectrolyte (3) Arrhenius base and an electrolyte (4) Arrhenius base and a nonelectrolyte
Jan 2005-47 Which chemical equation represents the reaction of an Arrhenius acid and an Arrhenius base? (1) HC2H3O2(aq)+ NaOH(aq)--> NaC2H3O2(aq)+ H2O(l) (2) C3H8(g)+ 5 O2(g)--> 3 CO2(g)+ 4 H2O(l) (3) Zn(s)+ 2 HCl(aq)--> ZnCl2(aq)+ H2(g) (4) BaCl2(aq)+ Na2SO4(aq)--> BaSO4(s)+ 2 NaCl(aq)
June 2004-29 Hydrogen chloride, HCl, is classified as an Arrhenius acid because it produces
(1) H+ions in aqueous solution (2) Cl–ions in aqueous solution (3) OH–ions in aqueous solution (4) NH4+ions in aqueous solution
AP Chemistry The
Lewis Model acid: accepts an electron pair base: donates an electron pair The advantage of this theory is that many more reactions can be considered acid-base reactions because they do not have to occur in solution.
F3B:NH3 
