Question

What is the difference between an acid and its conjugate base?

Question 1 options:
A.) The physical state of the acid changes.
B.) The acid donates an H + ion.
C.) The conjugate base accepts an OH– ion.
D.) The size of the ion always doubles

Answer 1

I took a quiz with this question on it, the answer is
B) The acid donates an H + ion

Answer 2

Answer : The correct option is B: The acid donates an H + ion.

Explanation :

According to Bronsted -Lowry theory, an acid is a substance that donates a proton. The substance that is left after the proton is donated is known as "conjugate base" of that acid.

Consider a general acid HA. The dissociation reaction of the acid can be written as follows.

`HA (aq) + H_(2)O (l)\rightleftharpoons H_(3)O^(+) (aq)+ A^(-)(aq)`

In the above example, HA behaves as an acid because it donates proton to H₂O. When the proton is donated, A⁻is formed on the product side which is a conjugate base of HA.

From above discussion, we can say that a substance and its conjugate differ by a proton, H⁺ only.

Therefore the acid donates an H + ion is the correct option.