4 ms·
I'm not a chemist. But by common definitions aren't all acids (an)ions? (As in bronstead Lowry acids). So why is it being called an ion and not just acid?
by psychphysic 4y ago
I'm not a chemist.
But by common definitions aren't all acids (an)ions?
(As in bronstead Lowry acids).
So why is it being called an ion and not just acid?
- mkl 4y agoI think because they're talking about individual molecules fitting into the solid structure, not lots of molecules in solution.
- cout 4y agoI am also not a chemist. A (bronstead) acid is a proton donor. An atom that donates a proton becomes an (an)ion. The acid is not the anion; the anion is the conjugate base of the acid. Not all acids form an anion; hydronium is an ion that becomes neutral when it donates a proton. I do not know why the article used the term ion here. I am guessing it is because the abstract refers to IP6 as a polyanion. It is not referred to as an acid, because it is not participating in acid/base chemistry (though I tried reading the paper and the mechanism is well over my head).
- nextaccountic 4y ago> An atom that donates a proton An atom can donate an electron (and become a cation), but how can an atom donate a proton? By nuclear fission? edit: but, a molecule can donate a proton (an H+), and the molecule itself will become an anion
- cout 4y agoGood point, I meant to say molecule, not atom. I blame lack of coffee.