Science & Technology·Key Discoveries
Acids, Bases and Salts — Key Discoveries
Constitution VerifiedUPSC Verified
Version 1Updated 9 Mar 2026
Key Discoveries
Arrhenius Theory of Ionization
1884Svante Arrhenius proposed that acids produce H+ ions and bases produce OH- ions in aqueous solutions. This was a foundational step in understanding the nature of acids and bases,…
Brønsted-Lowry Proton Transfer Theory
1923Johannes Brønsted and Thomas Lowry independently proposed that acids are proton (H+) donors and bases are proton acceptors. This theory expanded the definition beyond aqueous…
Lewis Electron Pair Theory
1923Gilbert Lewis further generalized acid-base definitions, identifying acids as electron pair acceptors and bases as electron pair donors. This theory is the broadest, encompassing…