By how much do the two members of a conjugate acid base pair differ?
ABy one hydrogen ion
BBy one whole electron
CBy one oxygen atom
DBy two hydrogen ions
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. By one hydrogen ion
1. Look at the forward and the reverse reaction of the same reversible equation.
2. An acid gives away a proton in the forward direction, leaving a species that can take one back.
3. That pair of species differs by exactly one hydrogen ion and by one unit of charge.
4. The species left after the acid loses its proton is the conjugate base of that acid.
5. Two hydrogen ions would take a diprotic acid two steps, which is not what a single pair describes.
_Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 12 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 9: Acids and bases_
Keep practising Acids and Bases
Browse all Acids and Bases questions for NSC / Matric, or explore more Chemistry topics.
Related questions
50 cm cubed of 0.10 mol per dm cubed hydrochloric acid is diluted with water to a total voWhich indicator is preferred for the titration of a weak acid with a strong base?What is the difference between a strong acid and a concentrated acid?Under the Bronsted-Lowry model, what does a base do during a reaction?