What is the conjugate acid of HCO_3^-?

1 Answer
Feb 17, 2015

A conjugate acid is a substance that is formed when a base receives a proton, or H^(+).

So, in order to determine the conjugate acid for a given base, all you have to know is that

"base" + H^(+) -> "conjugate acid of that base"

In your case, the base is hydrogen carbonate, or HCO_3^(-). If you write the equation you'll get

HCO_3^(-) + H^(+) -> H_2CO_3

Carbonic acid, or H_2CO_3, will be the conjugate acid of hydrogen carbonate.