Vital to the study of organic chemistry is being able to explain how starting materials are transformed to products by showing the flow of electrons in something called a mechanism. Mechanisms are composed of just five different common elementary steps. The most common step is called a proton transfer. A proton is just the nucleus of a hydrogen atom and is often symbolized as H+. From general chemistry, you may remember that the definition of Bronsted-Lowry acid base theory is that an acid is a hydrogen donor and a base is a hydrogen acceptor. What is really transferred between an acid and a base though is just the nucleus of a hydrogen which is why inorganic chemistry we call this process a proton transfer.
Watch the videos below to learn how to move electrons for a proton transfer. Also pay attention to how other structural features of the molecule can impact the acidity of a proton. Then solidify your learning by practicing the recommended puzzles. Remember, this is one of the most common steps in a mechanism, so a firm understanding of acid base chemistry will help you greatly in understanding the material throughout the course!