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What cannot be classified as a Bronsted-Lowry base?

1) Water (H₂O)
2) Ammonia (NH₃)
3) Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
4) Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)

User Stefjnl
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1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) can indeed be classified as a Brønsted-Lowry base because it produces hydroxide ions in solution, which can accept protons.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the Brønsted-Lowry theory, a base is any substance that can accept a proton (H+). Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is considered a Brønsted-Lowry base because, when it dissolves in water, it ionizes to produce hydroxide ions (OH-) which can accept a proton, thus acting as a proton acceptor. This behavior aligns with the character of bases as defined by Brønsted and Lowry.

Therefore, it is incorrect to say that sodium hydroxide cannot be classified as a Brønsted-Lowry base. The question may stem from a misunderstanding of the theory, which categorizes bases more broadly than just hydroxide-containing compounds, but in the case of sodium hydroxide, it both contains and produces hydroxide ions in solution.

User Vulcan
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