happoemäksisiin

Happoemäksisiin, often anglicized as acid-base, refers to the chemical concept that describes the reactions between acids and bases. In essence, it is the study of how substances donate or accept protons (hydrogen ions) or electron pairs. The Arrhenius definition, one of the earliest, described acids as substances that increase the concentration of hydrogen ions in water, while bases increase the concentration of hydroxide ions.

A broader definition, the Brønsted-Lowry theory, defines an acid as a proton donor and a base as a proton acceptor. This view is widely used and explains a vast array of chemical reactions. For example, when hydrochloric acid (HCl) reacts with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), HCl donates a proton to the hydroxide ion, forming water and a salt.

The Lewis definition is the most general, defining an acid as an electron-pair acceptor and a base as an electron-pair donor. This definition encompasses reactions that do not involve protons, such as the formation of complex ions. The interplay between acids and bases is fundamental to many chemical and biological processes, including digestion, environmental chemistry, and industrial applications like manufacturing fertilizers and pharmaceuticals. The concept of pH, a measure of acidity or alkalinity, is a direct consequence of acid-base chemistry and is crucial for understanding the behavior of solutions.