In: Chemistry
c) Write the reaction of nitrite with water, where transfer of a proton takes place. Identify the Bronsted-Lowry acid-base pairs.
Nitrite (NO2-) reacts with water, H2O as below.
NO2- (aq) + H2O (l) -------> HNO2 (aq) + OH- (aq)
A Bronsted-Lowry acid is defined as a proton donor while a Bronsted-Lowry base is a proton acceptor. A Bronsted-Lowry acid loses one or more protons to form a conjugate base (also a Bronsted base) while a Bronsted-Lowry base accepts one or more protons to form a conjugate acid (also a Bronsted acid).
H2O donates a proton to NO2- to form HNO2. Therefore, H2O is a Bronsted-Lowry acid and the conjugate base of H2O is OH-. Similarly, NO2- is a Bronsted-Lowry base since it accepts a proton. Thus, NO2-and HNO2 form a Bronsted-Lowry base/acid pair.