Follow the Proton

You'll learnhow to name the acid, the base and both conjugates by following one H⁺ — and why pure water is never ion-free.

Ammonia has no OH anywhere in its formula, and it is a base. Water is a base in one reaction and an acid in the next. Both facts fall out of watching a single proton change hands. Twelve short steps; press Next for each one.

12 STEPS · 6 QUICK CHECKS · ACID DONATES H⁺ · BASE ACCEPTS H⁺ · K_w = 1.0 × 10⁻¹⁴ · v2

one proton changes hands · and that fixes all four roles

Before you start

What you're looking at

Ammonia and water on a reaction stage, with one hydrogen ion sitting between them.

The question

Ammonia contains no OH at all. So why is it a base?

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