What substance is acting as the Brønsted-Lowry base in the forward reaction below?
H2O + NH3 yields NH4+ + OH-
NH3. A Bronsted-Lowry base accepts a proton. NH3 has a lone pair of electrons on the N, a proton (which needs two electrons) sits down there to produce the NH4^+. So NH3 is the base and NH4^+ is the conjugate acid.
In the forward reaction, H2O is acting as the Brønsted-Lowry base. This is because it accepts a proton (H+) from NH3, forming NH4+ and OH-. In the reaction, H2O is receiving the proton, thus acting as the base.
To determine which substance is the Brønsted-Lowry base in the forward reaction, we need to understand the basic principles of the Brønsted-Lowry theory. According to this theory, an acid is a proton (H+) donor, and a base is a proton acceptor. In this reaction:
H2O + NH3 yields NH4+ + OH-
We have H2O (water) and NH3 (ammonia) as the reactants. Water can act both as an acid and as a base, but in this case, it is acting as the acid because it donates a proton (H+). Meanwhile, NH3 accepts the proton, making it the base in this reaction.
So, NH3 is the Brønsted-Lowry base in the forward reaction.