Acids and Bases

A chemical reaction is a process where one or more reactants are converted to one or more different products.  This conversion is a result of the breaking of bonds (separation of the valence electron pairs) in the reactants, and the forming of new bonds (combining of valence electrons to form new pairs) to yield products.

There are many types of chemical reactions that can occur between different substances.  One of the most common reaction types is the acid-base reaction.  An acid, by Lewis definition, is an electron pair acceptor (a proton in aqueous medium), and a base is an electron donor (proton acceptor in aqueous medium).

In an aqueous acid-base reaction, a proton (acid) is formed by the breaking of a bond, and is transferred (bonded) to a new substance, the base.  Lets look at the valence electrons in the Lewis structures of a common acid base reaction.