Question

What is the key structural feature of all Bronsted-Lowry bases? How does this feature function in an acid-base reaction?

Short answer

The lone pair of electrons that can accept a proton. It forms a bond with the proton during the reaction.

Step-by-step solution

- Identify the Definition of a Bronsted-Lowry Base

Understand that a Bronsted-Lowry base is defined as a substance that can accept a proton (H+). This is the key feature that distinguishes Bronsted-Lowry bases from other types of bases.

- Determine the Structural Feature

Identify the structural feature that allows Bronsted-Lowry bases to accept a proton. This feature is the presence of a lone pair of electrons on an atom within the molecule. The lone pair of electrons is used to form a bond with a proton.

- Explain the Function in an Acid-Base Reaction

In an acid-base reaction, the Bronsted-Lowry base uses its lone pair of electrons to form a bond with a proton from the Bronsted-Lowry acid. This results in the transfer of the proton from the acid to the base, forming a new species and completing the reaction.

Key concepts

Proton Acceptor

In chemistry, and especially in the study of acids and bases, the term 'proton acceptor' is crucial. Essentially, a Bronsted-Lowry base is any substance that can accept a proton, which is a hydrogen ion (H+).

This concept tells us how substances interact during chemical reactions. A proton is quite small and charged, and it doesn't have any electrons. To be accepted by another molecule, the molecule must have an available space for it.

During an acid-base reaction, the base will look for a proton to accept. The base's ability to accept a proton is what defines it as a Bronsted-Lowry base. This interaction leads us to the next core concept, as accepting protons happens through a specific atomic feature.

Lone Pair of Electrons

A significant feature of Bronsted-Lowry bases is the presence of a lone pair of electrons. Electrons are tiny, negatively charged particles in atoms, and a 'lone pair' refers to a set of two of these electrons that are not involved in bonding.

In an atom, electrons can be involved in bonds with other atoms or can exist as lone pairs. These lone pairs are important because they are ready to interact with other particles, like protons.

When a base encounters an acid, the lone pair of electrons on the base will interact with the proton from the acid. This interaction allows the proton to attach to the base, forming a new bond. The ability to form this bond is essential for the base's role in an acid-base reaction.

Acid-Base Reaction

An acid-base reaction is a fundamental process in chemistry where an acid and a base interact to form new substances.

In the Bronsted-Lowry theory, an acid is a proton donor, and a base is a proton acceptor. When these two come together, the proton from the acid transfers to the base. This transfer is the core action in the reaction.

Here's the step-by-step process:

• The acid, which has a proton to give away, approaches the base.
• The base uses its lone pair of electrons to attract and hold onto the proton.
• The proton moves from the acid to the base, forming a new product in the process.

This transfer of a proton completes the reaction and results in the creation of new compounds. Understanding how acids and bases interact will help you grasp more complex chemical reactions in the future.