Question

a base is the opposite of an acid in that it accepts ______ in a solution. select one: a. a catalyst b. hydrogen ions c. chemical bonds d. enzymes

Explanation:

To solve this, we recall the definition of a base (Bronsted - Lowry definition): a base is a substance that accepts hydrogen ions ($H^+$) in a solution, while an acid donates hydrogen ions.

• Option a: A catalyst speeds up reactions, not related to acid - base behavior.
• Option c: Chemical bonds are not what a base accepts in the context of acid - base chemistry.
• Option d: Enzymes are biological catalysts, not related to acid - base definitions.
• Option b: Matches the Bronsted - Lowry definition of a base.

Answer:

b. hydrogen ions