Question

Which substance is acting as the Brønsted-Lowry acid in the following chemical reaction? NH4 + OH- yields NH3 + H2O

Answer 1

The ammonium ion (NH4+) is the Brønsted-Lowry acid in the reaction NH4+ + OH- → NH3 + H2O because it donates a proton to the hydroxide ion.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the chemical reaction NH4+ + OH- yields NH3 + H2O, the substance acting as the Brønsted-Lowry acid is the ammonium ion (NH4+). This is because NH4+ donates a proton (H+) to the hydroxide ion (OH-), which makes it the proton donor. The hydroxide ion, which accepts the proton, is acting as the Brønsted-Lowry base. Whether in the forward or reverse reaction, the Brønsted-Lowry acid-base theory helps us analyze the proton transfer to determine which compound is the acid and which is the base.

Answer 2

According to Bronsted-Lowey concept of Acid and Base, an Acid is any specie which donates proton (H+) while, Base is a substance which accepts proton from acid. In the reaction above, Ammonium ion is acting as Acid and Hydroxyl ion as Base because Ammonium ion donates proton and converts into ammonia a conjugate base, while, hydroxyl ion accepts proton converting into water (a conjugate acid in this case).