Proton transfer equilibria

This chapter describes proton transfer equilibria. It begins by looking at the Brønsted–Lowry theory of acids and bases, according to which an acid is a proton donor and a base is a proton acceptor. The strength of an acid is reported in terms of its acidity constant and that of a base in terms of its basicity constant. The chapter then considers protonation and deprotonation. It differentiates between a weak acid and a strong acid. A strong acid is commonly regarded as being completely deprotonated in aqueous solution. The chapter also differentiates between a strong base and a weak base.