Brønsted acid

Hydrogen ion source

A Brønsted acid is a substance that donates a proton (hydrogen ion) to another substance.

This definition, developed by Danish chemist Johannes Brønsted in 1923, focuses on proton transfer rather than electron behavior.

Hydrochloric acid is a Brønsted acid because it donates H⁺ to water; water itself acts as a Brønsted acid when it donates a proton to ammonia.

The complementary term is Brønsted base, which accepts protons.

Related

amphoteric · buffer solution · hydrogen ion · hydrogen bonding · corrosive · vinegar · ionization · citric · electrolyte · catalyst · acidic · buffer · acidity · donor · titration · neutralization · equilibrium · reactive

Opposites
proton transfer behavior

Brønsted acidbase

Supporting bottom structure

alkali · hydroxide · ammonia · nucleophile

Family

acid

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