Why is the arrhenius definition too restrictive

Problem 2 Easy Difficulty In the Arrhenius definition, what characterizes an acid? View Answer. Topics Liquids. World of Chemistry Chapter 16 Acids and Bases. Section 1 Properties of Acids and Bases. Discussion You must be signed in to discuss. What is an acid in the bronsted -Lowry model?

What is a base. What is the acid in Bronsted-Lowry model? What is a base? Top Chemistry Educators Theodore D. Carleton College. Stephanie C. University of Central Florida. Nadia L. Rice University. Allea C. University of Maryland - University College. Chemistry Bootcamp Lectures Liquids - Intro A liquid is a nearly incom…. Recommended Videos Problem 2. Problem 3. There are various models for what constitutes an acid or a base.

The classical model for acids and bases is called the Arrhenius theory. The Arrhenius theory defines a base as a substance which produces hydroxide ions, OH - when dissolved in water. The Arrhenius definitions are too restrictive, however, because water is not always the solvent. The Bronsted-Lowry model is a more general model of acids and bases.

A Bronsted acid is a species molecule or ion which is capable of transferring a hydrogen ion to another species; the species which receives the proton from the acid is called a Bronsted base. Under the Bronsted definition, HCl would still be an acid because it is a source of hydrogen ion: when HCl is dissolved in water, the HCl molecules transfer the hydrogen ions to the water molecules.

But under the Bronsted theory, any species capable of transferring hydrogen ions would be an acid. For example, solutions of the salt ammonium chloride are mildly acidic this is why ammonium chloride is used in cough drops. In the Bronsted-Lowry model, the acidity of ammonium chloride solutions would be explained in terms of the transfer of hydrogen ions from the ammonium ion to water:. In theory, the pH of 0.

The test paper you used, when used correctly, indicates whole-number pH values from 1 to This particular resource used the following sources:. Skip to main content. Acids and Bases. Search for:. The Arrhenius Definition. Learning Objective Recall the Arrhenius acid definition and its limitations. The Arrhenius definitions of acidity and alkalinity are restricted to aqueous solutions and refer to the concentration of the solvent ions.