What is the conjugate acid-base relationship of (H2PO4)- and (HPO4)-?

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What is the conjugate acid-base relationship of (H2PO4)- and (HPO4)-?

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Answer 1 · 2015-11-12T20:26:18

The conjugate base of an acid, any acid, is defined as the acid $LESS$ $"LESS"$ a proton, $H^{+}$ $H^+$ . The conjugate acid of a base, any base, is defined as the base $PLUS$ $"PLUS"$ a proton.

Explanation:

Phosphoric acid, $H_{3} P O_{4}$ $H_3PO_4$ , is the parent acid. If it loses a proton, $H^{+}$ $H^+$ , we conserve both mass and charge, and $H_{2} P O_{4}^{-}$ $H_2PO_4^-$ results. And what is the conjugate base of this beasty? Again, conserve mass and charge, and $H P O_{4}^{2 -}$ $HPO_4^(2-)$ results. You did not conserve mass and charge in your question; I agree that this is all too easy to do.

What is the conjugate base of biphosphate, $H P O_{4}^{2 -}$ $HPO_4^(2-)$ ? This species does not exist in water. And what is the conjugate base of bisulfate, $H S O_{4}^{-}$ $HSO_4^-$ (and this one does exist in water)? Can you tell me the conjugate acid of $H_{3} P O_{4}$ $H_3PO_4$ ? Conserve mass, and conserve charge, and these are trivial questions.

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What is the conjugate acid-base relationship of (H2PO4)- and (HPO4)-?

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