lyate ion

chemistry

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June 30, 2026

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The term "lyate ion" refers to the anion derived from a solvent molecule by the removal of a proton. This concept is used in specific solvent systems to define acids and bases. For instance, in water, the lyate ion is the hydroxide ion (OH⁻), while the lyonium ion is the hydronium ion (H₃O⁺). An acid is considered a substance that increases the lyonium ion concentration and decreases the lyate ion concentration, whereas a base does the opposite. This definition is particularly useful in understanding acid-base reactions within various solvent environments, though it is closely related to the broader Brønsted-Lowry definition of acids as proton donors and bases as proton acceptors.1

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acid–base reaction
Alternative definitions
The terms lyonium and lyate ions are occasionally used in this way. In water, the lyonium and lyate ions are H₃O⁺ and OH⁻; in ethanol, C₂H₅OH₂⁺ and C₂H₅O⁻; and in liquid ammonia, NH₄⁺ and NH₂⁻. For a given solvent, an acid can then be defined as a substance that…
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The terms lyonium and lyate ions are occasionally used in this way. In water, the lyonium and lyate ions are H₃O⁺ and OH⁻; in ethanol, C₂H₅OH₂⁺ and C₂H₅O⁻; and in liquid ammonia, NH₄⁺ and NH₂⁻. For a given solvent, an acid can then be defined as a substance that…
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