Question

When ammonia gas is dissolved in water, is the water behaving as an acid, as a base, or neither?

Answer 1

Solution:

Ammonia reacts with water like this:

NH₃(aq) + H₂O(l) = NH₄⁺(aq) + OH^-(aq)

The ammonia takes a hydrogen ion from water. So ammonia is a base according to the Bronsted-Lowry theory (A base is a proton acceptor).

The water behaves like an acid (An acid is a proton donor).