In the reaction between hydrogen selenide (H₂Se) and water (H₂O), hydrogen selenide acts as the acid, while water functions as the base. This is because hydrogen selenide donates a proton (H⁺) to water, forming the conjugate base selenide ion (Se²⁻) and the conjugate acid hydronium ion (H₃O⁺).
According to the Brønsted-Lowry acid-base theory, an acid is a proton donor, and a base is a proton acceptor. Hydrogen selenide, containing the relatively electronegative selenium (Se), has a tendency to release protons, categorizing it as an acid. Water, being neutral and able to accept a proton to form hydronium, serves as the base in this equation.
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