Summary:
- Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius (1859-1927) was the first to propose a theory to explain the observed behavior of acids and bases.
- Because of their ability to conduct a current, he knew that both acid and bases contained ions in solution.
- An Arrhensius acid is a compound, which ionizes to yield hydrogen ions (H+) in aqueous solution.
- A monoprotic acid is an acid that contains only one ionizable hydrogen.
- Most common polyprotic acids are either diprotic (such as H2SO4) or triprotic.