The Real Chemistry of Acids and Bases

You’ve been lied to about acids and bases. It’s not just “low pH” versus “high

pH.” Sure, that’s the Arrhenius definition — acids make more hydrogen

ions in water, bases make more hydroxide ions. But here’s the real chemistry: the Brønsted–Lowry

definition. Acids are proton donors — they hand over H⁺ ions. Bases are proton

acceptors — always looking to grab one. For example — drop hydrochloric acid

into water, and it splits into H⁺ and Cl⁻. That proton doesn’t just float around

— ammonia in the solution swoops in, grabs it, and becomes ammonium.

And this proton trading isn’t just some classroom diagram. It runs your metabolism, breaks down your