Question
Question: What is the conjugate base of \[HCO_3^ - \] and \[{H_2}O\] ?...
What is the conjugate base of HCO3− and H2O ?
Solution
In inorganic chemistry, bicarbonate is a type of carbonic acid that is deprotonated. It has the chemical formula HCO3− and is a polyatomic anion. The chemical formula for water is H2O .
Complete answer:
Conjugate acids and conjugate bases are included in the Bronsted-Lowry acid-base theory. The basic idea behind this theory is that when an acid and a base react, the acid forms its conjugate base, and the base forms its conjugate acid through proton exchange. The Arrhenius theory is a generalization of this theory.
In water, an acid loses a hydrogen ion when it dissociates into its ions. The conjugate base of acid is the species that is produced.
A conjugate acid and a conjugate base undergo the following chemical reaction:
HX+H2O↔X−+H3O+
Since the conjugate base is an anion, it can be identified in an acid-base reaction.
A more general definition is that the base member, X− , of a pair of compounds that turn into each other by losing or gaining a proton is a conjugate base.
So, now we know that when an acid loses a hydrogen ion, the conjugate base is formed. As a result, the conjugate base of any compound is the compound after H+ has been removed from it.
(CO3)2− is the conjugate base of the acid HCO3− .
The conjugate basis of H2O is OH− .
Note:
The Bronsted-Lowry theory of acids and bases includes conjugate acids and bases. Remember that when an acid loses one of its hydrogen ions, a conjugate base is formed. An anion can be recognized as the conjugate base.