Discoverer/Developer

Thomas Martin Lowry (1874-1936) was born in West Yorkshire, England. His father was a reverend. He became a chemistry professor at Guy's Hospital Medical School before becoming a physical chemistry professor at Cambridge University in 1920. His main research was the optical activities of solutions. This led him to propose the acid/base theory in 1923, the same year that Brønsted proposed it.

Johannes Brønsted (1879-1947) was born in Verde, Denmark. He became a professor of chemistry at the University of Copenhagen. In 1923, he proposed an acid/base theory. Besides acids and bases, Brønsted studied electrolytes, reaction kinetics, and thermodynamics. He was elected to Danish parliment in 1947, but died before he could take office.

 

Concept Definition

Study the primary definition of this concept, broken into general, basic, and advanced English definitions. Also see the mathematical definition and any requisite background information, such as conditions or previous definitions.

Basic

In the Brønsted-Lowry classification, an acid is a substance that donates a proton and a base is a substance that accepts a proton.

 

Vocabulary

Learn important vocabulary for this concept, including words that might appear in assessments (tests, quizzes, homework, etc.) that indicate the use of this concept.

 Important Vocabulary

 

Works Cited

Review the works cited to write the researched parts of this page, such as the discover's biographical information and other areas.

 Works Cited