Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol (CH3CH2OH), can indeed act as a Brønsted-Lowry acid as well as a Brønsted-Lowry base. Let’s explore these two roles through chemical equations.
Ethanol as a Brønsted-Lowry Acid
As a Brønsted-Lowry acid, ethanol donates a proton (H+) to a base. In this case, when ethanol reacts with hydroxide ions (OH–), it can donate a proton to form ethoxide ions (CH3CH2O–).
CH3CH2OH + OH- → CH3CH2O- + H2OEthanol as a Brønsted-Lowry Base
On the other hand, ethanol can also act as a Brønsted-Lowry base by accepting a proton. For instance, when ethanol reacts with a proton (H+), it turns into ethonium ion (CH3CH2OH+).
CH3CH2OH + H+ → CH3CH2OH+In summary, ethanol can act both as an acid and a base, showcasing its versatile nature in chemical reactions.