Question

Show how water can serve as a base by showing the chemical equation of water reacting with hydrochloric acid. g

Answer 1

So, water reacts with hydrochloric acid in the following formula

H2O + HCl —-> H3O+ + Cl-

We can visualize that when the two react, the hydrogen ions is taken on by the water molecule. This satisfies one of the definitions for a base

Bronsted acids = anything that donates a proton (H+ ion)

Bronsted bases = anything that accepts a proton (H+ ion)

So, as we can see, that is exactly what is happening. The Cl- and H+ detach and then the water takes on that extra H+.

H3O+ is what we call a hydronium ion