Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026

11:00
Determination of the Gas-phase Acidities of Oligopeptides
Published on: June 24, 2013
Proton defect solvation and dynamics in aqueous acid and base
1Graduate Program in Biophysics and Structural Biology, Brandeis University, MS 009, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA, USA.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|October 6, 2012
Summary
A new water model, LEWIS, simulates proton hopping in acidic and basic solutions. This allows for the evaluation of proton transfer intermediates at relevant concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Computational Chemistry
Background:
- Proton transfer is fundamental to many chemical and biological processes.
- Simulating proton hopping in aqueous solutions is computationally challenging.
- Understanding proton transfer intermediates is crucial for reaction mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce LEWIS, a novel reactive and polarizable water model.
- To enable statistically reliable simulations of proton hopping events.
- To evaluate proton transfer intermediates in aqueous acid and base.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of the LEWIS water model.
- Molecular simulations of aqueous acid and base solutions.
- Analysis of proton transfer events and intermediates.
Main Results:
- LEWIS successfully simulates a statistically reliable number of proton hopping events.
- Proton transfer intermediates in aqueous acid and base were evaluated.
- The model is suitable for concentrations of practical interest.
Conclusions:
- The LEWIS model provides a powerful tool for studying proton transfer in aqueous systems.
- It enables the investigation of key intermediates in acid-base chemistry.
- This opens new avenues for computational studies in aqueous electrochemistry and reactivity.
Related Concept Videos
Solvating Effects
An understanding of the solvating effect helps rationalize the relation between solvation and acidity of the compound. In addition, this also explains the relative stability of conjugate bases for compounds with different pKa values. This lesson details, in-depth, the principle of solvating effects. The strength of an acid and the stability of its corresponding conjugate base are determined using pKa values. This observed relationship is a consequence of solvation, which is the interaction...
Leveling Effect and Non-Aqueous Acid-Base Solutions
This lesson defines the leveling effect in acidic and basic solutions and its role in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions. It is essential to understand the competing nature of various species in a chemical system.
The Leveling Effect of a Solvent
A generic acid (HA) reacts with the generic base (B-) to yield the corresponding conjugate base (A-) and conjugate acid (HB):
The Leveling Effect of a Solvent
A generic acid (HA) reacts with the generic base (B-) to yield the corresponding conjugate base (A-) and conjugate acid (HB):
Titration in Nonaqueous Solvents
Most acid-base titrations are performed in an aqueous medium. In aqueous titrations, water competes with weaker acids or bases for proton donation or acceptance, leading to ambiguous endpoints in the titration curve. Water also affects the partial ionization of weak acids or bases. For example, water accepts a proton from acetic acid to form hydronium and acetate ions. The hydronium ion formed is a stronger acid than acetic acid, and the acetate ion is a stronger base than water. As a result,...
Leveling Effect
In acid-base chemistry, the leveling effect refers to the limitation imposed by the solvent on the strength of acids and bases in solution. When a base stronger than the solvent's conjugate base is used, it deprotonates the solvent until the base is entirely consumed, making it ineffective against weaker acids. Conversely, an acid stronger than the solvent's conjugate acid protonates the solvent until the acid is depleted, rendering it ineffective against weaker bases. Essentially, the solvent...
Acid/Base Strengths and Dissociation Constants
The relative strength of an acid or base is the extent to which it ionizes when dissolved in water. If the ionization reaction is essentially complete, the acid or base is termed strong; if relatively little ionization occurs, the acid or base is weak. There are many more weak acids and bases than strong ones. The most common strong acids and bases are listed below:
Brønsted-Lowry Acids and Bases
In 1923, the Brønsted–Lowry definition of acids and bases was proposed by Johannes Brønsted and Thomas Lowry. According to this theory, a Brønsted acid is defined as a species that donates a proton in a chemical reaction and gets converted to its conjugate base. A Brønsted base is defined as a species that accepts a proton in a chemical reaction and gets converted into its conjugate acid. These transfers of protons are caused by the displacement of electrons in these reactions, which is...

