2) According to the Bronsted-Lowry theory, what does H2O act as in the
following reaction? HCl + H2O -> H3O+ + Cl- *
A)Acid
B)Base
C)Conjugate Acid
D)Conjugate Base

Option B) Base

Explanation:

According to Bronsted-Lowry theory, an acid is a substance that donates a proton and produces a conjugate base while a base is a molecule or ion which accepts the proton and produces a conjugate acid.

Thus, water H2O acts as a example of Bronsted-Lowry base while hydrochloric acid, HCl acts as an acid respectively as shown in the reaction below

HCl(aq) + H2O(aq) -> H3O+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

H2O acts as an base by accepting a proton donated by HCl, thus producing hydroxonium ion, H3O+ as a conjugate acid.

Thus, in the given reaction, H2O acts as a base