Question:

As per Bronsted-Lowry concept, acid is defined as:

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In the Bronsted-Lowry theory, acids donate protons (H\(^+\)), while bases accept protons. This theory explains acid-base reactions in aqueous and non-aqueous systems.
Updated On: Jul 14, 2026
  • Electron pair acceptor
  • Any substance/molecule that can accept a proton
  • Any substance/molecule that can donate a proton
  • Electron pair donor
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The Correct Option is C

Approach Solution - 1

Step 1: Understanding the Bronsted-Lowry concept. The Bronsted-Lowry theory defines acids and bases based on proton (H\(^+\)) transfer: - Acid: A substance that donates a proton (H\(^+\)) in a reaction. - Base: A substance that accepts a proton (H\(^+\)). 

Step 2: Explanation of correct answer. According to the Bronsted-Lowry concept, an acid is any molecule or ion that donates a proton (H\(^+\)), which makes option (C) correct. 

Step 3: Why other options are incorrect. - (A) Electron pair acceptor: This definition aligns with Lewis acids, not Bronsted-Lowry acids. 
- (B) Any substance/molecule that can accept a proton: This defines a Bronsted-Lowry base, not an acid. 
- (D) Electron pair donor: This describes Lewis bases, not acids.

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Approach Solution -2

The question asks how the Bronsted-Lowry theory defines an acid. Since several acid-base theories exist side by side, checking which definition belongs to protons versus electron pairs settles which option is correct.

  1. Electron pair acceptor: This is the Lewis definition of an acid, which describes electron pair movement rather than proton transfer. The Bronsted-Lowry theory is built entirely around protons, so this definition does not belong here.
  2. Any substance/molecule that can accept a proton (\(H^+\)): This is precisely how the Bronsted-Lowry theory defines a base, the species that receives the proton being donated in the reaction. Since the question asks about an acid, this option describes the wrong species.
  3. Any substance/molecule that can donate a proton (\(H^+\)): The Bronsted-Lowry theory, proposed independently by Johannes Bronsted and Thomas Lowry in 1923, defines an acid as any species that gives up a proton to another species in a reaction. In an acid-base reaction under this theory, the acid always loses \(H^+\) while the base gains it.
  4. Electron pair donor: This describes a Lewis base, again framed around electron pairs rather than protons, so it does not match the Bronsted-Lowry acid definition either.

Only the proton donating definition fits the Bronsted-Lowry framework, since that theory is defined entirely in terms of \(H^+\) transfer rather than electron pairs.

Therefore, the correct answer is Any substance/molecule that can donate a proton.

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