Ethanol Arrhenius Acid?

[MedPR]

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So why can't ethanol be an arrhenius acid? Couldn't it be reacted with something in aqueous solution to form H3O+?

 

[typicalindian]

I'm not sure if this is the right answer but lets see if this makes sense..

Arrhenius acid is one that forms H3O+ in water, which would require water to be more basic than the acid in question. the pKa of water is ~15.74, and the pKa of ethanol is 16 so wouldn't ethanol technically act as a base and turn into CH3CH2OH2+ ?

 

[MedPR]

I'm not sure if this is the right answer but lets see if this makes sense..

Arrhenius acid is one that forms H3O+ in water, which would require water to be more basic than the acid in question. the pKa of water is ~15.74, and the pKa of ethanol is 16 so wouldn't ethanol technically act as a base and turn into CH3CH2OH2+ ?

Yea I think you're right. I figured since acids sometimes act as bases that they might be arrhenius. Oh well, thanks!

 

[phaloz]

So the main point to remember is that in order for something to be an arrenhius acid it needs to be able to form H3O+ when reacting with H2O? If it forms H3O+ with any other compound it doesn't count?

 

[MedPR]

So the main point to remember is that in order for something to be an arrenhius acid it needs to be able to form H3O+ when reacting with H2O? If it forms H3O+ with any other compound it doesn't count?

I guess so.