Chapter 4, Problem 34CTQ

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: Conjugate acid and conjugate base in each column of below table should be determined.

  

Concept introduction: According to the Bronsted-Lowry concept, a substance that donates proton is termed as acid while that accepts or gains protons is called a base. Species formed after loss of protons from acids are known as their respective conjugate bases whereas conjugate acid is produced by the addition of protons to base.

Conjugate acid of base is produced when hydrogen $\left({\text{H}}^{+}\right)$ ions are added to base. Conjugate base of acid is formed when hydrogen $\left({\text{H}}^{+}\right)$ ion is removed from acid. So substances that contain hydrogen in them act as conjugate acids while substances that do not have hydrogens attached act as conjugate bases.