University of South Carolina-Columbia
CHEM 333 CHAPTER 2: ACIDS AND
BASES Questions and Answers 2026 Latest
Update
According to the Bronsted-Lowry definition, a base is a proton _____, while
an acid is a proton _____. Ans: acceptor; donor
According to the Bronsted-Lowry definition, an acid must contain which of
the following? Ans: A hydrogen atom
A Bronsted-Lowry base must have an "available" electron pair to form a
bond to H+. Which of the following structural features allow an electron pair
to be used in this way? Ans: - One or more electron pairs in π bonds.
- One or more lone pairs in the structure.
Which of the following Bronsted-Lowry acid/base classifications are correct?
Ans: - (CH3)3N is a base.
- CH3COOH is an acid.
Select all statements that accurately describe Bronsted-Lowry acid-base
reactions. Ans: - Acid-base reactions are also known as proton transfer
reactions.
- One bond is formed in an acid-base reaction.
Match each term with the correct Bronsted-Lowry definition.
- Acid:
- Base: Ans: - proton (H+) donor
- proton (H+) acceptor
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When identifying Bronsted-Lowry acids and bases in an organic reaction, if
only one species has a lone pair or π bond it must be the _____, while if only
one species contains an available hydrogen atom it must be the _____. Ans:
base, acid
*Reason: A species with a lone pair can readily accept a proton and is
therefore defined as a base.
Which of the following statements correctly describe Bronsted-Lowry acids?
Ans: - A Bronsted-Lowry acid must contain a H atom.
- A Bronsted-Lowry acid is a proton donor.
Which of the statements below correctly describe the curved arrows
required to show the mechanism of the following acid-base reaction
correctly? Ans: - An arrow must begin on the lone pair of the acetylide and
end on a hydrogen of H2O.
- An arrow must begin on one of the bonds between H and O and end on O.
Which of the following structural characteristics is required for a compound
to act as a Bronsted-Lowry base? Ans: An available electron pair
Select all species in the diagram that can function as Bronsted-Lowry bases.
Ans: - B
-C
-D
*Reason: the base must contain an "available" electron pair that can be easily
donated to form a new bond.
A Bronsted-Lowry acid donates a proton to form its conjugate _____,
whereas a Bronsted-Lowry base accepts a proton to form its conjugate _____.
Ans: base; acid
Which of the following statements correctly describe the steps involved in
any general reaction between a Bronsted-Lowry acid and base (see the
diagram)? Ans: - The acid (H-A) loses a proton, leaving an electron pair on
atom A.
- The electron pair of the base (B:) forms a new bond to H.
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