Question

In its reaction with water, ammonia (NH₃) act as :

a. acts as a bronsted lowry acid.
b. acts as a bronsted lowry base.
c. acts as neither an acid nor as a base because it does not ionize.
d. serves as both an acid and as a base in water
e. causes a precipitate to form when reacting with water

Answer 1

Ammonia acts as a Brønsted-Lowry base in its reaction with water, accepting a proton to form ammonium ions and hydroxide ions, with water serving as the acid. The correct option is (b)

Step-by-step explanation:

In the reaction between ammonia (NH₃) and water, ammonia acts as a Brønsted-Lowry base. This is because ammonia accepts a proton (H+) from the water molecule, which donate the proton, hence water acts as a Brønsted-Lowry acid. The reaction produces ammonium ions (NH₄+) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻), which are the conjugate acid and the conjugate base, respectively. Therefore in this reaction, water is the Brønsted-Lowry acid and ammonia is the Brønsted-Lowry base, agreeing with the concept that acids donate protons and bases accept them.