BronstedLowryKonzept
The Bronsted–Lowry concept defines acids as substances that donate a proton (H+) and bases as substances that accept a proton. A proton-transfer reaction AH + B ⇌ A− + BH+ illustrates the idea: the acid transfers a hydrogen ion to the base. The species formed from the acid is its conjugate base, and the species formed from the base is its conjugate acid. The framework describes acid–base reactions in terms of proton transfer, not necessarily in water, and is widely applicable to many solvents.
Conjugate acid–base pairs are linked by the proton transfer. The position of equilibrium depends on the relative
Examples illustrate the concept. In water, HCl donates a proton to H2O, giving Cl− and H3O+; here
The Brønsted–Lowry theory complements other acid–base models, such as Arrhenius and Lewis. It is broadly applicable,