Indicate in the below reactions which of the reacting substances are acting as Bronsted acids (BA) which as Bronsted bases (BB)

Question

Also, indicate which of the products are conjugate acids (CA) and bases (CB)

a) H₂CO₃ + NH₃ → HCO₃⁻ +NH₄⁺

b) CH₃COOH + H₂O → CH₃COO⁻ + H₃O⁺

Answer 1

According to the Bronstead theory, an acid is a proton donor and a base is a proton acceptor.

Using this definition ...

a) H2CO3 is the acid as it donates a proton, and NH3 is a base as it accepts the proton

b) CH3COOH is the acid as it donates a proton, and H2O is the base as it accepts the proton