[tangent1.57]

Does a protic solvent equal an acid?  By definition, an acid gives up a H+.  Therefore, my answer is "yes".

Moreover, suppose a compound does NOT give up H+ in water.  However, it gives up H+ in a solution of some other liquid - let's say mercury.  Would you describe this compound as "not being acidic in water, but it is acidic in Hg"? 

[Henry]

Ethanol is a protic solvent. However, it will not protonate water. On the other hand, strong bases can deprotonate ethanol. Acidic behavior is dependent on the pKa values of the acids/bases involved in a reaction.

[zxt]

Does a protic solvent equal an acid?  By definition, an acid gives up a H+.  Therefore, my answer is "yes".

Moreover, suppose a compound does NOT give up H+ in water.  However, it gives up H+ in a solution of some other liquid - let's say mercury.  Would you describe this compound as "not being acidic in water, but it is acidic in Hg"? 

Yes, and acid can be defined as either giving up H⁺ or receiving OH^-.

[ufalynn88]

Not necessarily. Ammonia is protic but it is a base. Protic only refers to the presence of a hydrogen bond...however not all molecules with a hydrogen bond present are going to donate them...thus, not all protic substances are acids.

[zxt]

Not necessarily. Ammonia is protic but it is a base. Protic only refers to the presence of a hydrogen bond...however not all molecules with a hydrogen bond present are going to donate them...thus, not all protic substances are acids.

Ammonia is protic? It receives H⁺ because of its lone electron pair while ammonium is acid because NH₄⁺ ::equil::NH₃+H⁺.

[kd.gns]

Not necessarily. Ammonia is protic but it is a base. Protic only refers to the presence of a hydrogen bond...however not all molecules with a hydrogen bond present are going to donate them...thus, not all protic substances are acids.

Ammonia is protic? It receives H⁺ because of its lone electron pair while ammonium is acid because NH₄⁺ ::equil::NH₃+H⁺.

I think you have just answered your own question by finding a contradiction, you have just identified that Ammonia is both protic and not an acid. Also, your definition of acid is incomplete, not all acids gives up H+, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid#Definitions_and_concepts

[zxt]

I think you have just answered your own question by finding a contradiction, you have just identified that Ammonia is both protic and not an acid. Also, your definition of acid is incomplete, not all acids gives up H+, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid#Definitions_and_concepts

Thank you. And I find thishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protic_solvent

Also, your definition of acid is incomplete, not all acids gives up H+

see:

and acid can be defined as either giving up H+ or receiving OH-.

[kd.gns]

Yes, and acid can be defined as either giving up H⁺ or receiving OH^-.

I did read that, please look at Lewis Acids and Bases for the counter to that statement.

[ufalynn88]

I know that there are multiple definitions of acid. Edit:: I used the BRONSTED/LOWRY definition as it is most commonly used in organic chemistry.