Which term describes a chemical that absorbs protons?

The term that describes a chemical that absorbs protons is "Base." Bases are substances that can accept protons (H⁺ ions) in a chemical reaction. This is based on the Brønsted-Lowry definition of acids and bases, which states that an acid is a proton donor, while a base is a proton acceptor.

In contrast, acids donate protons, and neutral substances do not have a tendency to donate or accept protons, remaining neutral in terms of acidity or basicity. Buffers, on the other hand, are solutions that resist changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added, typically consisting of a weak acid and its conjugate base, but they do not specifically describe the action of absorbing protons.

Therefore, the characterization of a substance that absorbs protons aligns with the definition of a base.