Skip to main content

The Arrhenius Acid-Base Definition

This video presents the same text shown beside it, spoken and on screen. It adds nothing the text does not say.

State

The Arrhenius definition names an acid as a substance raising hydrogen ion concentration in water, a base as one raising hydroxide ion concentration in water.

Show

HCl dissolving releases H+, an Arrhenius acid; NaOH dissolving releases OH−, an Arrhenius base.

Watch for

This definition only works in water, leaving familiar bases like ammonia unclassified by its wording alone.