Chemistry - Acids and Bases Vocab

electrolyte

A substance that dissolves in water to produce ions and conduct electricity.

coordinate covalent bond

A bond in which both electrons in the shared pair come from the same atom.

Lewis base

A substance that donates a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.

polyprotic

An acid that can donate more than one proton (H⁺) per molecule.

corrosive

A substance that can destroy or damage other materials through a chemical reaction, often by eating away at them.

Brønsted-Lowry base

A substance that accepts a proton (H⁺) in a chemical reaction.

dissociate

To break apart into ions when dissolved in water.

binary acid

An acid composed of only hydrogen and one other nonmetal element.

amphoteric

A substance that can act as either an acid or a base depending on the reaction.

monoprotic

An acid that donates only one proton (H⁺) per molecule.

Lewis acid

A substance that accepts a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.

conjugate acid-base pair

Two substances that differ by only one proton (H⁺); one is the acid, the other is its conjugate base (or vice versa).

neutralization reaction

A reaction between an acid and a base that produces water and a salt.

Arrhenius base

A substance that increases the concentration of OH⁻ ions in water.

oxyacid

An acid that contains hydrogen, oxygen, and another element (often a nonmetal).

Brønsted-Lowry acid

A substance that donates a proton (H⁺) in a chemical reaction.

caustic

A substance that can burn or corrode organic tissue, especially strong bases.

Arrhenius acid

A substance that increases the concentration of H⁺ ions in water.