What is Transferred Between a Conjugate Acid Base Pair?

••• Rawpixel/iStock/GettyImages

Chemists define conjugate acid-base pairs in terms of the absence or presence of a hydrogen ion or proton. Keeping this in mind, a base becomes a conjugate acid by accepting a proton, and an acid becomes a conjugate base by donating one. Protons transfer between acids and bases and their conjugates.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)

Protons (hydrogen ions) transfer between conjugate acids and bases.

About Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs

The Bronsted acid-base theory distinguishes acids and bases by the ability of acids to easily give up protons, and for bases to accept them. Another feature of the theory is that acids and bases form what chemists call conjugate pairs; when the acid member of the pair donates a proton, it becomes the conjugate base, and when the base member accepts a proton, it becomes the conjugate acid.

Where Protons Come From

The proton plays a significant role in the chemistry of acids and bases as a sort of ionic “currency,” passing back and forth between molecules in solution. In the case of a strong acid that consists of an H+ ion and some negative ion, the proton comes from the acid dissociating into its ionic components in water. In the case of a base, the H+ ion comes from “stealing” a hydrogen from H2O. Note that the idea of free-floating H+ ions is a convenient fiction; they don’t actually exist for prolonged periods in water as “naked” protons. Instead, excess hydrogen bonds with water to take the form of the hydronium ion, H3O+.

Examples of Conjugate Acids and Bases

When hydrochloric acid (HCl) dissolves in water, it forms the hydronium ion and the chloride ion, Cl-. As an ion, chloride becomes the conjugate base of HCl, and hydronium is the conjugate acid of H2O. Sulfuric acid, H2SO4, has the sulfate ion SO4(2-) as the conjugate base. Sodium hydroxide, NaOH, is a strong base that takes a proton to become a free sodium ion (Na+) and a water molecule, which in this case acts as the conjugate acid. Note that strong acids typically have weak conjugate bases and strong bases have weak conjugate acids.

The Role of Water

Water plays a few different roles in acid-base reactions. First, it acts as a solvent and dissociates compounds into ions. Next, water molecules absorb free hydrogen ions, forming hydronium. Finally, depending on the reaction, water may become a conjugate acid or base; even though it is technically neutral with a pH of 7, its relative acidity or alkalinity allows it to act as a weak acid or base.

Related Articles

What is a Lewis Acid?
What Happens in a Lewis Acid Base Reaction?
What Happens When an Acid & a Base Are Combined?
Strong vs Weak Acids and Bases
How to Calculate the pH of Ammonia Water Using KB
Number of Protons in an Uncharged Atom
Does the Nucleus of an Atom Have Much of an Effect...
Characteristics of a Proton
How to Determine Conjugate Bases of Acids
Difference Between Atoms & Ions
Chemical Reactions Between 6M of HCL & a Piece of...
How to Calculate Force of Attraction Between Ions
How to Find the PKA of a Weak Acid
How to Find the Mass Number of Bromine With 46 Neutrons
Chemical Bonding Rules
Why Do Hydrates Change Color When Heated?
How to Calculate Percent Dissociation
How Would the Lack of a Cofactor for an Enzyme Affect...
Why Does Phenolphthalein Change Color?

Dont Go!

We Have More Great Sciencing Articles!