How do you identify conjugate acid base pairs?

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How do you identify conjugate acid base pairs?

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Answer 1 · 2014-05-11T15:33:03

Let us take the example of Bicarbonate being placed in water to create Carbonic Acid and Hydronium ions.

$H C O_{3}^{-} + H_{2} O \to H_{2} C O_{3} + O H^{-}$ $HCO_3^(-) + H_2O -> H_2CO_3 + OH^-$
$B a s e + A c i d \to C o n j A + C o n j B$ $Base + Acid -> Conj A + Conj B$

On the reactant side of the equation the water ( $H_{2} O$ $H_2O$ ) is the Acid as it is the hydrogen ion donor to the bicarbonate ( $H C O_{3}^{-}$ $HCO_3^-$ ) which is the Base as it receives the hydrogen ion..

On the product side the Carbonic Acid ( $H_{2} C O_{3}$ $H_2CO_3$ ) is the Conjugate Acid as it is the hydrogen donor to the Conjugate Base ( $O H^{-}$ $OH^-$ ) as it receives the hydrogen ion.

$H C O_{3}^{-} \to H_{2} C O_{3}$ $HCO_3^(-) -> H_2CO_3$
$B a s e \to C o n j A$ $Base -> Conj A$
The Carbonic Acid ( $H_{2} C O_{3}$ $H_2CO_3$ ) is the Conjugate Acid pair to the Base bicarbonate ( $H C O_{3}^{-}$ $HCO_3^-$ ) .

$H_{2} O \to O H^{-}$ $H_2O -> OH^-$
$A c i d \to C o n j B$ $Acid -> Conj B$

The Hydroxide ( $O H^{-}$ $OH^-$ ) is the Conjugate Base pair to the Water (H_2O#).

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How do you identify conjugate acid base pairs?

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