Chemical Forums

Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: FouRRaW on June 01, 2006, 10:07:59 PM

Title: Negative Ions Act As Bases
Post by: FouRRaW on June 01, 2006, 10:07:59 PM

I have a question in the textbook. 

How do all negative ions act as bases??

Does anybody have a link to a site i could find the answer? Or a hint?

Thanks

Title: Re: Negative Ions Act As Bases
Post by: Mitch on June 01, 2006, 10:11:47 PM

HSO₄^- would only act like a base depending on the pH of the solution. ;)

Title: Re: Negative Ions Act As Bases
Post by: FouRRaW on June 01, 2006, 10:32:47 PM

Is that smartass response??
I really don't know actually.

Or is it a hint?

Title: Re: Negative Ions Act As Bases
Post by: mike on June 01, 2006, 10:54:41 PM

It may also depend on which definition of base you mean....

Title: Re: Negative Ions Act As Bases
Post by: FouRRaW on June 01, 2006, 11:05:15 PM

I gues it'd be the bronsted-lowry definition.  A base is a molecule or ion that can accept a ^H+ proton.

Title: Re: Negative Ions Act As Bases
Post by: FouRRaW on June 01, 2006, 11:20:17 PM

Cause i can't just say a negative ion acts as a base by accepting a H⁺ ion, can i?

Title: Re: Negative Ions Act As Bases
Post by: Mitch on June 01, 2006, 11:24:26 PM

Quote from: FouRRaW on June 01, 2006, 10:32:47 PM

Is that smartass response??

Not that time.

Title: Re: Negative Ions Act As Bases
Post by: wereworm73 on June 02, 2006, 12:29:31 AM

Whenever acids & bases are mentioned, they're usually the Bronsted-Lowry type (H⁺ donors & acceptors).  You might also hear about Lewis acids & bases, which involve donors/acceptors of electrons instead of H⁺, but these will be refered to as "Lewis acids" or "Lewis bases" (or often in organic chemistry, "electrophiles" & "nucleophiles") rather than simply "acids" or "bases" (unless your chemistry teacher or textbook happens to be fiendishly ambiguous  :P ).

Anions of strong acids--like HSO₄^-, Cl^- & NO₃^---won't accept H⁺, at least not to any significant degree.  So, not all negative ions will act as a (Bronsted-Lowry) base.
 
 

Title: Re: Negative Ions Act As Bases
Post by: mike on June 02, 2006, 12:53:10 AM

Quote

at least not to any significant degree

This may be the sticking point for some people though ;)