Question

What is the conjugate base of h2so4?

Answer 1

The conjugate base of H₂SO₄ is the hydrogen sulfate ion (HSO₄⁻), which can act as both an acid and a base.

Step-by-step explanation:

The conjugate base of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) is the hydrogen sulfate ion (HSO₄⁻). When H₂SO₄ donates a proton (H⁺), it forms HSO₄⁻, which can still donate another proton, making it an amphiprotic species, meaning it can act as both an acid and a base. The strength of the conjugate base is related to the strength of the acid from which it is derived and their respective pKa and pKb values, hence the HSO₄⁻/SO₄²⁻ pair demonstrates this relationship. The sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻) is a weak base, thus HSO₄⁻ is a very weak base, consistent with being the conjugate base of the strong acid H₂SO₄.

Answer 2

The University of Waterloo science page lists HSO4 as the conjugate base of H2SO4. H2SO4 is the chemical name for sulfuric acid, and the conjugate base is hydrogen sulfate. Even though HSO4 is also an acid, it can either be a conjugate acid or a conjugate base depending on context.