acid
The Arrhenius definition of acids and bases is somewhat limited. There are some compounds whose properties suggest that they are either acidic or basic, but which do not qualify according to the Arrhenius definition. An example is ammonia NH 3 . Its aqueous solution turns litmus blue, it reacts with acids, and displays all the other properties of a base. However, it does not contain the hydroxide ion. In 1923, a broader definition of acids and bases was independently proposed by Danish chemist Johannes Brnsted 1879-1947 and English chemist Thomas Lowry 1874-1936 . A Brnsted-Lowry acid is a molecule or ion that donates a hydrogen ion in a reaction. A Brnsted-Lowry base is a molecule or ion that accepts a hydrogen ion in a reaction. A hydrogen ion is commonly referred to as a proton, and so acids and bases are proton donors and proton acceptors respectively according to the Brnsted-Lowry definition. All substances that are categorized as acids and bases under the Arrhenius definition are also defined as such under the Brnsted-Lowry definition. The new definition, however, includes some substances that are left out according to the Arrhenius definition.