GIDEON ROBERT UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL: SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES

CATEGORY: PRE-MED COURSE
INTAKE: JULY 2025 INTAKE
COURSE: CHG110 (PHYSICS)
GROUP MEMBER NAME: STUDENT ID:
KUNAISHE IVAN CHIGAYO 201882
GRACE
BLESSED MBEWE
PRAISE MASIYA 201844
NEHEMIAH MIGHT MULUNDANO 201880

DEBATE
MOTION; HYDROGEN IONS (H+) IS AN ACID
Contrasting (opposing) group
 Chemistry Debate

MOTION; HYDROGEN IONS (H+) IS AN ACID

Contrasting (opposing) group

Introduction

UNDERSTANDING AN ACID AND A BASE

Acid-Base

Acid-base chemistry involves accepting or donating either protons or electron pairs.

Acid-base chemistry is a fundamental aspect of chemical science that plays a crucial role in
our daily lives. Its applications range from industrial processes to biological systems.
Understanding acid-base chemistry is not just essential for scientists, but also for everyday
life, as it helps in making informed decisions about health, nutrition, and environmental
issues.
ACIDS AND BASES: DEFINITIONS
Acids and bases are two types of compounds that readily react with one another.

 Acids are substances that donate protons (H⁺ ions) or accept electron pairs. Common
examples include vinegar (acetic acid, CH₃COOH), citrus fruits (citric acid, C₆H₈O₇), and
stomach acid (hydrochloric acid, HCl). The properties of acids include a sour taste, ability
to turn blue litmus paper red, and corrosiveness.
 Bases, on the other hand, are substances that accept protons or donate electron pairs.
Examples include baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO₃), soap (sodium hydroxide,
NaOH), and ammonia (NH₃). Bases are characterized by a bitter taste, slippery feel, and
the ability to turn red litmus paper blue.

FORMATION OF ACIDS

Acids are formed in several ways, primarily when non-metal oxides dissolve in water,
creating an acidic solution, or by the direct combination of elements like hydrogen and
chlorine to form acidic compounds like hydrogen chloride gas

Dissolving Acidic Oxides in Water

Many acids are formed when the oxides of non-metallic
elements react with water.
Example 1: When sulfur dioxide (SO2), a non-metal oxide, dissolves in water, it forms
sulfurous acid.
Example 2: Carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves in water to produce carbonic acid, which makes
rain slightly acidic.
Direct Combination of Elements
Acids can be prepared by the direct combination of elements
under specific conditions.
Example: Hydrogen chloride gas (HCl) is formed from the combination of hydrogen and
chlorine gas, often with the aid of an electric spark.

The Role of Hydrogen Ions (H+)

According to the Arrhenius definition, acids are substances that produce H+ ions when they
are in an aqueous (water-based) solution.
These hydrogen ions are responsible for the characteristic properties of acids, such as their
low pH on the pH scale.
The release of these H+ ions into the solution classifies the substance as an acid.
ACID-BASE CHEMISTRY AND THE PH SCALE
The pH scale, ranging from 0 to 14, measures the acidity or alkalinity (basicity) of a solution.
A pH less than 7 indicates acidity, while a pH greater than 7 indicates alkalinity. A pH of 7 is
neutral. Pure water is an example of a substance with a neutral pH.
 ACID-BASE THEORIES

The three main theories of acids and bases are the Arrhenius theory, Brønsted-Lowry theory,
and Lewis theory. Each of these theories has its uses in chemistry.

1. Arrhenius Theory

The Arrhenius theory defines an Arrhenius acid as a substance that increases the
concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in an aqueous solution and an Arrhenius base as a
substance that increases the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH−) in water. For
example, hydrochloric acid (HCl) is an Arrhenius acid because it dissociates in water to
produce H+ ions, while sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is an Arrhenius base because it
dissociates to produce OH− ions.

Key Aspects of the Arrhenius Theory:

1. Acids:
They are compounds that produce hydrogen ions (protons) when dissolved in water.
These H+ ions in water typically combine with water molecules to form hydronium
ions (H3O+), although the term "H+" is often used for simplicity.
Example: HCl (aq) → H+ (aq) + Cl− (aq)
2. Bases:
They are compounds that produce hydroxide ions (OH−) when dissolved in water.
These hydroxide ions are responsible for the basic properties of the solution.
Example: NaOH (aq) → Na+ (aq) + OH− (aq)

o Acids: Substances that increase the concentration of H⁺ ions in water.

o Bases: Substances that increase the concentration of OH⁻ ions in water.
2. Brønsted-Lowry Theory

The Brønsted-Lowry definition states that a Brønsted-Lowry acid is a proton (H⁺) donor
and a Brønsted-Lowry base is a proton acceptor. In an acid-base reaction, a proton is
transferred from the acid to the base, forming a conjugate base from the acid and a
conjugate acid from the base. These pairs, which differ by a single proton, are known as
conjugate acid-base pairs.

Key Components

1. Proton Donor (Acid): A substance that gives away a proton (H⁺).

2. Proton Acceptor (Base): A substance that takes a proton (H⁺).
3. Conjugate Base: The species that remains after an acid has donated a proton.
4. Conjugate Acid: The species that is formed when a base accepts a proton.
5. Amphiprotic Substances: Some substances, like water, can act as both a proton
donor and a proton acceptor, making them amphiprotic.

o Acids: Proton donors.

o Bases: Proton acceptors.

3. Lewis Theory

The Lewis theory defines a Lewis base as an electron pair donor and a Lewis acid as an
electron pair acceptor. This concept, developed by Gilbert N. Lewis, is broader than
previous acid-base theories as it focuses on electron pairs rather than protons. In a Lewis
acid-base reaction, a Lewis adduct forms when the base donates its electron pair to the
acid, creating a dative (coordinate covalent) bond.

Key Aspects of the Lewis Theory

1. Lewis Acid:
A species with a vacant orbital capable of accepting an electron pair to form a dative
bond.
2. Lewis Base:
A species with a filled orbital containing a lone pair of electrons that can be donated to
form a dative bond.
3. Lewis Adduct:
The product formed when a Lewis base donates its electron pair to a Lewis acid.
4. Dative Bond:
A coordinate covalent bond where both shared electrons come from one atom (the Lewis
base).
Examples
Boron trifluoride (BF₃) and Ammonia (NH₃):
BF₃ is a Lewis acid because boron has only six valence electrons and can
accept an electron pair. NH₃ is a Lewis base because the nitrogen atom has a
lone pair it can donate. The reaction forms an adduct: H₃N•BF₃.
Metal ions and ligands:
In forming complex ions, a central metal ion (Lewis acid) accepts electron
pairs from ligands like water or ammonia (Lewis bases). For example, the
silver ion (Ag⁺) accepts lone pairs from ammonia (NH₃) to form the complex
ion Ag (NH₃)₂⁺.
Advantages of the Lewis Theory
Broader Scope:
It provides a more generalized definition of acids and bases, encompassing
reactions that don't involve proton transfer.
Application to Complex Ion Formation:
It is particularly useful for explaining the formation of complex ions in
solution.

o Acids: Electron pair acceptors.

o Bases: Electron pair donors.
 STRENGTH OF ACIDS AND BASES
One way of classifying acids and bases is as strong or weak:

 Strong Acids and Bases: These dissociate completely in water. Examples include
hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
 Weak Acids and Bases: These partially dissociate in water. Examples include acetic acid
(CH₃COOH) and ammonia (NH₃).

ACID-BASE REACTIONS AND NEUTRALIZATION

Acid-base reactions typically involve the transfer of protons from acids to bases.
Neutralization is a specific type of acid-base reaction where an acid and a base react to form
water and a salt, effectively neutralizing each other.
The outcome of an acid-base reaction depends on the strength of the acids and bases.

1. Strong Acid with Strong Base: This leads to complete neutralization, forming a neutral
salt and water. Example: HCl (acid) + NaOH (base) → NaCl (salt) + H₂O (water).
2. Strong Acid with Weak Base: The resulting solution is slightly acidic, as the weak base
cannot completely neutralize the strong acid. Example: HCl (acid) + NH₃ (base) →
NH₄Cl (salt) + H₂O (water).
3. Weak Acid with Strong Base: The resulting solution is slightly basic, as the strong base
completely neutralizes the weak acid. Example: CH₃COOH (acid) + NaOH (base) →
CH₃COONa (salt) + H₂O (water).
4. Weak Acid with Weak Base: This leads to partial neutralization, with the pH of the
resulting solution depending on the relative strengths of the acid and base. Example:
CH₃COOH (acid) + NH₃ (base) → CH₃COONH₄ (salt) + H₂O (water).
 BUFFERS IN ACID-BASE CHEMISTRY
A buffer is a solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of an acid or a base are
added. This property is essential in various chemical, biological, and environmental contexts
where maintaining a stable pH is critical.
Buffers typically consist of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its
conjugate acid. This dual presence allows the buffer to neutralize added acids or bases. For
instance, in a buffer composed of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and its conjugate base, sodium
acetate (CH₃COONa), the acetic acid neutralizes added bases while the sodium acetate
neutralizes added acids.
The buffer capacity refers to the amount of acid or base a buffer solution can absorb without
a significant change in pH. This capacity depends on the concentration of the buffer
components and the closeness of the solution’s pH to the pKa (acid dissociation constant) of
the buffer acid.

Summery difference between a strong acid and a weak acid?

A strong acid completely dissociates into its ions in water, releasing all of its hydrogen
ions. Examples include hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). A weak acid
only partially dissociates in water, leaving many of its hydrogen ions un-released. Acetic
acid (CH₃COOH) and citric acid (C₆H₈O₇) are common examples.

Explaining the meaning of pH of 7

A pH of 7 indicates a balance between hydrogen ions (H⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻) in a
given compound or substance. The higher the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺)
indicate acidity while the higher the concentration of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) is an
indication of substance being a base

Why is pH important in daily life?

pH plays a crucial role in everyday life. It affects food taste, digestion, skin health, pool
water safety, garden soil quality, and even the functioning of batteries and car fluids.

What are some common household acids and bases?

Common household acids include vinegar (acetic acid), lemon juice (citric acid), and
battery acid (sulfuric acid). Household bases include baking soda (sodium bicarbonate),
bleach (sodium hypochlorite), and ammonia-based cleaners.

How do buffers work?

Buffers work by using a weak acid and its conjugate base (or a weak base and its
conjugate acid) to resist changes in pH. When you add an acid or base to the buffer, the
buffer components react to neutralize the added substance. This keeps the pH relatively
stable.
Understanding acid-base neutralization reaction
An acid-base neutralization reaction occurs when an acid and a base react to form water
and a salt. This reaction typically decreases the solution’s acidity or basicity.

Examples of acids and bases usage

Acids and bases have wide industrial applications. Acids find use in metal processing,
fertilizer production, and petroleum refining. Bases are important in soap and detergent
manufacturing, textile processing, and papermaking.

Key Summary of An acid definition

In chemistry, an acid is a substance that can donate a proton (H+) to another
compound, a characteristic described by the Brønsted-Lowry definition. It can also
be defined by its ability to produce hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water,
known as an Arrhenius acid. Acids typically have a pH lower than 7, a sour taste,
and can turn certain indicators, like blue litmus paper, red.

Key Characteristics of Acids

1. Proton Donor:
The most general definition of an acid is a species that donates a proton
(H+).

2. Hydrogen Ion Producer:

In an aqueous solution, an acid increases the concentration of hydrogen ions
(H+).

3. pH Below 7:
Acids have a pH value less than 7 on the pH scale, with lower values
indicating higher acidity.

4. Sour Taste:
Many acids, such as those in fruit and vinegar, have a characteristic sour
taste.

5. Turns Blue Litmus Red:

Acids cause a colour change in some acid-base indicators, most notably
turning blue litmus paper red.

6. Reacts with Bases:

Acids react with bases in a process called neutralization, which forms a salt
and water.
 DEFINING AN ION

In chemistry, an ion is an atom or molecule that has a net electrical charge,

meaning it has an unequal number of protons and electrons.
If an ion has more electrons than protons, it has a negative charge and is called
an anion; if it has fewer electrons than protons, it has a positive charge and is
called a cation. These charges are formed when an atom or molecule gains or loses
one or more electrons.

How Ions Form

1. Gain of Electrons: ANION (-)
When a neutral atom or molecule gains electrons, it becomes an anion
because the addition of negatively charged electrons creates a net negative
charge.
2. Loss of Electrons: CATION (+)
When a neutral atom or molecule loses electrons, it becomes a cation
because the removal of negatively charged electrons leaves behind an excess
of positively charged protons, resulting in a net positive charge.

Types of Ions
 Monatomic Ions:
These are ions that consist of only a single atom, such as Na⁺ (sodium ion) or Cl⁻ (chloride
ion).
 Polyatomic Ions:
These are ions composed of two or more atoms bonded together, such as the ammonium ion
(NH₄⁺) or the hydroxide ion (OH⁻).

Examples
 Sodium (Na):
A neutral sodium atom can lose one electron to form a sodium ion (Na⁺), a positively
charged cation.
 Fluorine (F):
A neutral fluorine atom can gain one electron to form a fluoride ion (F⁻), a negatively
charged anion.
 THE ORIGIN OF H⁺ ION

 The H⁺ ion originates when a neutral hydrogen atom loses its single
electron, leaving behind its single proton, which is a positively charged
particle.
 This process can occur when hydrogen, as in hydrogen chloride, dissolves in
water, or when a hydrogen atom is ionized by radiation or collisions with
other particles. Since H⁺ is just a bare proton, and therefore has a very high
charge density, it readily forms bonds with other particles, such as water
molecules, to create hydronium ions (H₃O⁺) in solution, rather than
existing in isolation.
 Hydrogen (H+) ion, strictly, the nucleus of a hydrogen atom separated from
its accompanying electron.
 The hydrogen nucleus is made up of a particle carrying a unit positive
electric charge, called a proton.
 The isolated hydrogen ion, represented by the symbol H+, is therefore
customarily used to represent a proton.
 Because the bare nucleus can readily combine with other particles
(electrons, atoms, and molecules), the isolated hydrogen ion can exist only
in a nearly particle-free space (high vacuum) and in the gaseous state.
 In common usage, the term hydrogen ion is used to refer to the hydrogen ion
present in water solutions, in which it exists as the combined molecule
H+·H2O.
 The formula H+·H2O is also commonly written as H3O+ and denotes the
hydronium or oxonium ion. The amount of hydrogen ion present in a water
solution is used as a measure of the acidity of a substance; the higher the
concentration of hydrogen ion the more acidic the solution and the lower the
pH.
 FORMATION OF THE H⁺ ION

1. Neutral Hydrogen Atom: A neutral hydrogen atom consists of one proton in its nucleus and
one electron orbiting it.
2. Loss of Electron: When a hydrogen atom loses this electron, it becomes an ion.
3. Formation of a Proton: Since the electron is lost, only the proton remains.
4. Positively Charged Ion: The single proton carries a unit positive charge, resulting in the
formation of the H⁺ ion, also known as a proton.

OCCURRENCE OF H⁺ ION IN CHEMISTRY

 In Aqueous Solutions:
When a strong acid, like hydrochloric acid (HCl), dissolves in water, the hydrogen atom in
HCl loses its electron. The Cl atom retains the electron, becoming a chloride ion (Cl⁻),
while the hydrogen atom becomes an H⁺ ion.
 High Charge Density:
The H⁺ ion's extremely high charge density means it cannot exist freely in a water
solution. It will quickly bond with other particles, most commonly forming a hydronium
ion (H₃O⁺) by attaching to a water molecule.
 Acidity:
The presence of these H⁺ ions, or more accurately, hydronium ions, in a solution is what
defines it as acidic
 ARGUMENT: H⁺ IS NOT AN ACID
What is H⁺?

 A neutral hydrogen atom has 1 proton and 1 electron.

 When it loses that electron, it becomes H⁺ — just a naked proton.
 It has a +1 charge and no electrons, making it extremely reactive.
 In water, H⁺ doesn't float around alone — it binds with water molecules to form
hydronium (H₃O⁺):
 Hydrogen in its diatomic nature (H₂) is the lightest gas, colourless, odourless, and
tasteless under standard conditions, and is highly flammable, exploding over a wide
range of concentrations in air.

H⁺ is not an acid by itself: Represents what acids donate hence not an acid itself

H⁺ is not an acid by definition, but it is what makes substances acidic. It’s the essence of
acidity, even if it isn’t an acid itself

1. Acids are donors, not just the donated particle:

 According to Brønsted–Lowry theory, an acid donates H⁺, but H⁺ cannot donate
itself — it is the thing being donated.
 Therefore, H⁺ is the end product of an acid, not the acid itself.

2. H⁺ can't act alone in solution:

 In reality, free H⁺ ions don’t exist in solution. They are always associated with
other molecules, like water:
 This means the actual acidic species is H₃O⁺ (hydronium), not bare H⁺.

3. H⁺ lacks a base to donate a proton to:

 A substance can only be an acid in reaction with a base.

 H⁺ has no proton to give — it’s already a proton — so some argue it lacks the ability
to act as an acid on its own.

H⁺ is best understood as the "acidic species" rather than an acid in isolation.

4. It’s the active agent in acid behavior:

 In aqueous solution, acids act by releasing H⁺ ions, which then interact with other
species.
 The H⁺ is what lowers pH, determines acidity, and reacts with bases.

5. Conceptually, it represents acidity:

 In pH, the concentration of H⁺ (or hydronium, H₃O⁺) directly determines the strength
of an acid.
 The more H⁺ ions present, the more acidic the solution.

Elemental hydrogen (H₂) is not inherently an acid; it's neutral until it reacts.

Being a part of acid molecules doesn’t make hydrogen itself an acid.

An H+ ion has no taste on its own as acid possess a sour taste however because of its high
reactive state it quickly reacts with other molecules and only in that combined state with
other molecules does it develop a taste. Not by itself

The concentration of H⁺ in a given substance will determine the acidity hence the sour taste is
dependent on the concentration of H⁺ and not that the ion is the acid

Example 1:

H⁺ + H2O → H₃O⁺ it is the compound hydronium that will have the presence of H⁺

Example 2: Exothermic reaction of hydrogen and chlorine

Hydrogen gas (H₂) and chlorine gas (Cl₂) react to form hydrogen chloride gas (HCl) in a
synthesis reaction, represented by the balanced chemical equation:

H₂ + Cl₂ → 2HCl.

This is an exothermic reaction, meaning it releases heat, and can occur upon heating or
exposure to blue light.

Example 3: Condensation of hydrogen chloride gas

When you condense 2HCL at −85 °C (−121 °F) you get an acid Hydrochloric Acid in aquas
state

The H⁺ in the above is only a determinant and not an acid by itself as it bonds covalently with
Cl atoms

Example 4: Disassociation of water

H2O + H2O ⇌ H3O⁺ + OH⁻

The correct equation for the dissociation of water is H2O + H2O ⇌ H3O+ + OH–. Hydrogen
ions quickly form a hydronium ion in the presence of another water molecule and the reaction
exists in equilibrium. Water molecules naturally dissociate into hydrogen ions (H+) and
hydroxide ions (OH−)

Again the hydrogen ions (H+) here do not act as an acid but only react
 CONCLUSION

While there may be a debate on whether hydrogen ions (H+) is an acid or not we can clearly
observe that it’s not an acid but only what determines acidity state of other compounds and
substances

Hydrogen ions (H+) concentration is what is referred to as pH scale to help account for the
concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) but not making it an acid.