Question

What substance is acting as the Brønsted-Lowry base in the forward reaction below? H2O + HCl yields H3O+ + Cl-

Answer 1

Base is the opposite of Acidic.  So, with this knowledge, HCL can be ruled out as it is an acid.  It must then be H20 that is the base (which calling it a base can be deceiving if you are looking at the ph and not the equation)