Question 35 of 69beginner💡 UnderstandShort Answer2 marks

What is meant by the conjugate acid-base pair? Find the conjugate acid/base for the following species:

HNO2,CN−,HClO4,F−,OH−,CO32−,and S2−HNO_2, CN^-, HClO_4, F^-, OH^-, CO_3^{2-}, \text{and S}^{2-}
Correct Answer

A conjugate acid-base pair is a pair of species that differ from each other by only one proton. A conjugate base has one proton less than its corresponding acid, while a conjugate acid has one extra proton compared to its corresponding base.

The conjugate acids and bases for the given species are:

  • HNO2HNO_2: Conjugate base is NO2−NO_2^-
  • CN−CN^-: Conjugate acid is HCNHCN
  • HClO4HClO_4: Conjugate base is ClO4−ClO_4^-
  • F−F^-: Conjugate acid is HFHF
  • OH−OH^-: Conjugate acid is H2OH_2O
  • CO32−CO_3^{2-}: Conjugate acid is HCO3−HCO_3^-
  • S2−S^{2-}: Conjugate acid is HS−HS^-
Exercise: EXERCISES | Q: 6.35 | (Page 45)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The textbook defines a conjugate acid-base pair as species differing by only one proton. By applying the rule that a conjugate base has one proton less and a conjugate acid has one extra proton, we can determine the corresponding pairs for the given species.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Define a conjugate acid-base pair as two species that differ only by one proton.

  2. Step 2: Identify which given species are acids (have a proton to lose) and which are bases (can gain a proton).

  3. Step 3: For acids (HNO2HNO_2, HClO4HClO_4), remove one proton to find the conjugate base (NO2−NO_2^-, ClO4−ClO_4^-).

  4. Step 4: For bases (CN−CN^-, F−F^-, OH−OH^-, CO32−CO_3^{2-}, S2−S^{2-}), add one proton to find the conjugate acid (HCNHCN, HFHF, H2OH_2O, HCO3−HCO_3^-, HS−HS^-).

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