Reactions of acids
2 marks · HardIn terms of proton transfer, explain the difference between an acid and a base.
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An acid is a proton (H^+) donor and a base is a proton (H^+) acceptor.
Also accept: Acid donates protons (H^+), base accepts protons (H^+); An acid is a substance that gives protons, and a base is a substance that takes protons
Common mistakes: Saying acids accept protons; Not mentioning proton/H^+ transfer
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Marking points
B1 · 1 mark · Correctly states that an acid is a proton donor.
B1 · 1 mark · Correctly states that a base is a proton acceptor.
Worked solution
An acid is a substance that donates protons (H^+ ions) and a base is a substance that accepts protons (H^+ ions).