Reply #16: Well, it's really a matter of semantics. [View All]

If you're talking about those H's drawn, sometimes, on organic molecules, most organic chemists refer to those as protons. They do this for two reasons, they react most often like protons, that is they react with Bronsted/Lowry bases. The other reason is because they're characterized with proton NMR. When you analyze an organic molecule by convential means, you look at the protons (the H's).

Now they can also be called hydride ions when used that way. Or you can call them hydrogen atoms, that's OK too. Although they don't fit the absolute definition of hydrogen atoms. Since it's not a single electron, when it's bonded to another atom, the proton has two electrons in its valence shell, not one.

But like I said, that's just semantics. It's just three different ways of saying the same thing.

So I've got a question, why are you starting a new thread arguing semantics when you haven't answered my challenge in the other thread?