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Acids and Alkalis

Lowry and Brønsted   (continued).

In the reaction below

ammonia      +       water        ammonium ion   +    hydroxide ion
 NH3(aq)    +         H2O(l)               NH4+(aq)      +          OH-(aq)

Ammonia is the base because it gains a hydrogen ion
 to become an ammonium ion.
Water is the acid because it gives away a hydrogen ion (to ammonia)
to become a hydroxide ion.

base         +         acid                    acid                 +       base
NH3(aq)    +         H2O(l)                  NH4+(aq)      +       OH-(aq)

According to Lowry and Brønsted, water can be an acid or a base
 depending on the substance reacting with it.

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