Which of the following is a base?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a base?

Explanation:
Bases are substances that accept protons in Bronsted–Lowry terms. When a base is in water, it often increases the hydroxide ion concentration by grabbing a proton from water. Ammonia has a lone pair on nitrogen that readily accepts a hydrogen ion, forming ammonium and hydroxide: NH3 + H2O → NH4+ + OH−. That production of OH− makes the solution basic, which is why ammonia is classified as a base. The other options don’t behave this way in water: sodium chloride is a neutral salt, hydrochloric acid donates protons (an acid), and water is neutral overall (though it can act as an acid or base in other reactions, ammonia clearly demonstrates base behavior here).

Bases are substances that accept protons in Bronsted–Lowry terms. When a base is in water, it often increases the hydroxide ion concentration by grabbing a proton from water. Ammonia has a lone pair on nitrogen that readily accepts a hydrogen ion, forming ammonium and hydroxide: NH3 + H2O → NH4+ + OH−. That production of OH− makes the solution basic, which is why ammonia is classified as a base. The other options don’t behave this way in water: sodium chloride is a neutral salt, hydrochloric acid donates protons (an acid), and water is neutral overall (though it can act as an acid or base in other reactions, ammonia clearly demonstrates base behavior here).

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