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Acids and Alkalis

Lowry and Brønsted   (continued).

In the reaction below

ammonia      +       water        ammonium ion   +    hydroxide ion
NH_3(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
NH_3(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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