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Acids and bases

Can someone explain this to me. I understand an acid is H+ donor and a base is a H+ acceptor. But I don't fully get it how to work this out. Thanks :smile:

Acids and bases.jpg46.0KB

Reply 1

zombiejon

You have to compare both sides of the reaction.

For the first part, assume it only goes right. Eg CH3CH2COOH + H2O -> CH3CH2COO- + H3O+
So on the left hand side of the equation, which compound is the B-L base and which is the acid? If you look at the right hand side, you can see that one of them has lost a proton, meaning its corresponding molecule on the left hand side is the B-L acid.

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