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In chemistry, an acid–base reaction is a chemical reaction that occurs between an acid and a base.It can be used to determine pH via titration.Several theoretical frameworks provide alternative conceptions of the reaction mechanisms and their application in solving related problems; these are called the acid–base theories, for example, Brønsted–Lowry acid–base theory.
According to the original formulation of Lewis, when a neutral base forms a bond with a neutral acid, a condition of electric stress occurs. [7] The acid and the base share the electron pair that formerly belonged to the base. [7] As a result, a high dipole moment is created, which can only be decreased to zero by rearranging the molecules. [7]
A Lewis base is also a Brønsted–Lowry base, but a Lewis acid does not need to be a Brønsted–Lowry acid. The classification into hard and soft acids and bases ( HSAB theory ) followed in 1963. The strength of Lewis acid-base interactions, as measured by the standard enthalpy of formation of an adduct can be predicted by the Drago–Wayland ...
Acetic acid, CH 3 COOH, is an acid because it donates a proton to water (H 2 O) and becomes its conjugate base, the acetate ion (CH 3 COO −). H 2 O is a base because it accepts a proton from CH 3 COOH and becomes its conjugate acid, the hydronium ion, ( H 3 O + ).
On the other hand, if a chemical is a weak acid its conjugate base will not necessarily be strong. Consider that ethanoate, the conjugate base of ethanoic acid, has a base splitting constant (Kb) of about 5.6 × 10 −10, making it a weak base. In order for a species to have a strong conjugate base it has to be a very weak acid, like water.
However, for weak acids, a quadratic equation must be solved, and for weak bases, a cubic equation is required. In general, a set of non-linear simultaneous equations must be solved. Water itself is a weak acid and a weak base, so its dissociation must be taken into account at high pH and low solute concentration (see amphoterism).
The Lewis theory instead defines a Base as an electron-pair donor. The Lewis definition is broader — all Brønsted–Lowry bases are also Lewis bases. For more information see acid–base reaction theories.
HSAB is an acronym for "hard and soft (Lewis) acids and bases".HSAB is widely used in chemistry for explaining the stability of compounds, reaction mechanisms and pathways. It assigns the terms 'hard' or 'soft', and 'acid' or 'base' to chemical species.