Arrhenius Concept of Acids & Bases

    Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius first explained the cause of acidity and basicity in 1884, with his concept known as the ‘Arrhenius Concept of Acids and Bases’.

The Arrhenius concept of acids and bases can be stated as follows:

     "An acid is a hydrogen containing substance which yields H⁺ (i.e. hydronium ion,H₃O⁺) or increases the concentration of H₃O⁺ (aq.) when dissolved in water."

Example:

     HCl is an acid according to the Arrhenius concept, because it produces or yields H₃O⁺ ion in water.

   According to the Arhenius concept, 

     "A base is a substance which contains hydroxide(OH^-) ion and produces/yields OH^- ion dissolved in water."

 Example:

      NaOH is a base according to the Arrhenius concept of acids and bases, because it produces OH^- ion in water.