Question

Why will the conjugate base of a weak acid affect pH? Select the correct answer below: it will react with hydroxide

Answer 1

The question is incomplete; the complete question is;

Why will the conjugate base of a weak acid affect pH? Select the correct answer below: O it will react with hydroxide

O it will react with water

O it will react with hydronium

O none of the above Content attribution

Answer:

O it will react with hydronium

Explanation:

If we have a weak acid HA, the weak acid ionizes as follows;

HA(aq) ----> H^+(aq) + A^-(aq)

A^- is the conjugate base of the weak acid.

H^+ interacts with water to form the hydronium ion as follows;

H^+(aq) + H2O(l) ----> H3O^+(aq)

The pH=[H3O^+]

But the conjugate base of the weak acid reacts with this hydronium ion thereby affecting its concentration and the pH of the system as follows;

A^-(aq) + H3O^+(aq) ------> HA(aq) + H2O(l)