Conjugate Acids and Bases
What are conjugate bases?
Conjugate bases are formed when a Brønsted-Lowry (BL) acid donates a proton to a BL base.
What about conjugate acids?
Conjugate acids are formed when a BL base accepts a proton from a BL acid.
Example:
Acetic Acid (CH3COOH) + Water (H2O) --> Acetic Acid (CH3COO-) + Hydronium (H3O+)
Acetic acid releases an H+ ion, which makes it an acid, and water acts as a base here, by accepting this proton. When paired with its new proton buddy, water becomes hydronium (H3O+) making it the conjugate acid and the acetate (CH3C00-) a conjugate base.
Acetic acid releases an H+ ion, which makes it an acid, and water acts as a base here, by accepting this proton. When paired with its new proton buddy, water becomes hydronium (H3O+) making it the conjugate acid and the acetate (CH3C00-) a conjugate base.
I'm still confused. Can you put this in normal people terms?
Lets say you and your friend, John, are playing catch. John throws or "donates" the baseball to you and now you have the ability to throw it back to him. John "donating" or throwing the baseball is similar to an acid donating a proton. Like a base, you have the ability to "accept" or catch the baseball. Now, lets pretend that you caught or "accepted" the baseball. You are no longer the base, but now the conjugate acid, because you have the baseball and the ability to "donate" or throw it. John is now the conjugate base because he can catch or "accept" the base ball.
This is so cool! There is no math involved!
Don't get ahead of yourself....