Question

Identify the conjugate acid/base pairs in each of the following equations:

Answer 1

Answer:

(a) Pair 1: H₂S and HS⁻

    Pair 2: NH₃ and NH₄⁺

(b) Pair 1: HSO₄⁻ and SO₄⁻

    Pair 2: NH₃ and NH₄⁺

(c) Pair 1: HBr and Br⁻

    Pair 2: CH₃O⁻ and CH₃OH

(d)  Pair 1: HNO₃ and NO₃⁻

     Pair 2: H₃O⁺

Explanation:

When an acid loses its proton (H⁺), a conjugate base is produced.

When a base accepts a proton (H⁺), it forms a conjugate acid.

(a) H₂S is an acid. When it loses a proton, it forms the conjugate base HS⁻.

    NH₃ is a base. When NH₃ gains a proton, it forms the conjugate acid NH₄⁺

(b) The acid HSO₄⁻ loses a H⁺ ion and forms the conjugate base SO₄²⁻.

     The base NH₃ accepts a H⁺ ion to form the conjugate acid NH₄⁺.

(c) HBr is an acid. When loses the H⁺ ion, it forms the conjugate base Br⁻.

   CH₃O⁻ accepts a H⁺ ion to form the conjugate acid CH₃OH.

(d) HNO₃ loses a proton to form the conjugate base NO₃⁻.

    H₂O gains a proton to form the conjugate acid H₃O⁺.