Does the Hydride Ion, H⁻, Tend to Behave as an Acid

question 105

Multiple Choice

Does the hydride ion, H⁻, tend to behave as an acid or a base?

• A) Hydride ion is unstable and re-reacts with water to form an acid in the form of the hydronium ion, H₃O⁺.
• B) Hydride ion has a pair of electrons and acts like a Lewis base since it has a strong tendency to lend or donate that electron pair.
• C) Although the hydride ion has two electrons, they do not pair together. Thus, the hydride ion is incapable of acting as a Lewis base and therefore tends to behave as an acid.
• D) Hydride ion's makeup consists of one proton and two electrons. As such, its tendency is to form neutral hydrogen gas, , and therefore is neither acidic nor basic, but neutral.

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