What is the Difference Between Protic and Aprotic Solvents?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between protic and aprotic solvents lies in their ability to hydrogen bond and their acidity. Here are the key differences:
- Hydrogen Bonding: Protic solvents have O-H or N-H bonds, which allow them to participate in hydrogen bonding, a powerful intermolecular force. Aprotic solvents, on the other hand, lack O-H or N-H bonds and cannot hydrogen bond with themselves.
- Acidity: Protic solvents can serve as a source of protons (H+), making them acidic. Aprotic solvents are not significantly acidic due to their lack of dissociable hydrogen atoms.
Examples of polar protic solvents include water, ethanol, methanol, and ammonia. Polar aprotic solvents include acetone, dimethyl sulfoxide, DMF (N,N-dimethylformamide), acetonitrile, and crown ethers.
The choice of solvent can significantly affect the rates of chemical reactions, such as nucleophilic substitution reactions. Protic solvents favor the SN1 reaction mechanism, while aprotic solvents favor the SN2 reaction mechanism.
Comparative Table: Protic vs Aprotic Solvents
The main difference between protic and aprotic solvents lies in the presence or absence of acidic hydrogen atoms and their ability to form hydrogen bonds. Here is a table comparing the two types of solvents:
Property | Protic Solvents | Aprotic Solvents |
---|---|---|
Hydrogen Atoms | Contain acidic hydrogens, such as O-H or N-H bonds | Lack acidic hydrogen atoms and O-H or N-H bonds |
Hydrogen Bonding | Can form hydrogen bonds with themselves and other molecules | Cannot form hydrogen bonds with themselves or other molecules |
Examples | Methanol, ethanol, acetic acid, water | Acetone, DMSO, acetonitrile, DMF |
Both protic and aprotic solvents are polar solvents, meaning they have a dipole moment and can dissolve organic molecules such as alcohols, ethers, and ketones. They can also influence the stability and reactivity of chemical species, such as ions, and can function as reactants and catalysts in chemical processes. However, protic solvents have acidic hydrogen atoms and can form hydrogen bonds, whereas aprotic solvents lack these properties.
- Protic Acid vs Lewis Acid
- Polar vs Nonpolar Solvents
- Amphiprotic vs Polyprotic
- Monoprotic vs Polyprotic Acids
- Solution vs Solvent
- Solvent vs Solute
- Monoprotic vs Diprotic Acid
- Amphiprotic vs Amphoteric
- Deep Eutectic Solvents vs Ionic Liquids
- Dissociation vs Solvation
- Leveling Solvent vs Differentiating Solvent
- Ethanoic Acid vs Propanoic Acid
- Prototropy vs Tautomerism
- Acetonitrile vs Acetone
- Acetone vs Isopropyl Alcohol
- Acetic Acid vs Propionic Acid
- 2 Propanol vs Isopropanol
- Solvation vs Hydration
- Liquid vs Solution