A reaction between a bronsted acid or base and water to produce an acidic or basic solution?

• A. Hydrolysis reaction
• B. Titration
• C. Buffer Solution
• D. pH

Answer: (A)

Hydrolysis captures the idea of a substance reacting with water to change the solution’s acidity or basicity. When a Bronsted acid dissolves in water, it donates a proton to water: HA + H2O → H3O+ + A−, which makes the solution acidic. When a Bronsted base dissolves in water, it accepts a proton from water: B + H2O ⇌ BH+ + OH−, producing hydroxide and a basic solution. The key is the direct interaction with water that generates hydronium or hydroxide ions, altering pH. Titration is a method for determining concentration, not the reaction with water that changes pH; a buffer is a system that resists pH change and often involves acid–base conjugates; pH is the measure of the acidity or basicity, not a reaction.