In the reaction between hydrogen sulphate ion and water HSO4 + H20 H30+ + SOj- the water acts as

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Q: 17 (CDS-II/2017)
In the reaction between hydrogen sulphate ion and water HSO4 + H20 H30+ + SOj- the water acts as

question_subject: 

Science

question_exam: 

CDS-II

stats: 

0,5,13,10,5,2,1

keywords: 

{'hydrogen sulphate ion': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'water hso4': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'acid': [2, 1, 4, 16], 'salt': [1, 0, 1, 1], 'water': [65, 15, 80, 129], 'reaction': [1, 0, 5, 18], 'h20 h30': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'base': [3, 0, 3, 6]}

In this reaction, the water molecule (H2O) acts as a base. When it reacts with hydrogen sulfate ion (HSO4-) to form hydronium ion (H3O+) and sulfite ion (SO3^-), water accepts a proton (H+) from the hydrogen sulfate ion. This proton transfer from the acid (hydrogen sulfate ion) to the base (water) is what characterizes the Bronsted-Lowry theory of acids and bases.

Option 1: "an acid" - This option is incorrect. Water does not act as an acid in this reaction. It accepts a proton, making it a base.

Option 2: "a base" - This option is correct. Water acts as a base by accepting a proton from the hydrogen sulfate ion.

Option 3: "a salt" - This option is incorrect. A salt is formed when an acid and a base react to form an ionic compound. In this reaction, there is no formation of a salt.

Option 4: "an inert medium" - This option is incorrect. An inert medium does not participate in the reaction. However, in this reaction, water actively participates by accepting a proton, making it a base.

Therefore, the correct answer is option