Final answer:
In the reaction CH3OH + OH- ⇋ CH3O- + H2O, CH3OH is the Brønsted acid and OH- is the Brønsted base. After CH3OH donates a proton, it becomes CH3O-, the conjugate base, and water (H2O) formed becomes the conjugate acid.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the chemical reaction CH₃OH + OH⁻ ⇌ CH₃O⁻ + H₂O, we need to label each reactant and product as a Brønsted acid or base. According to the Brønsted-Lowry theory, an acid is a proton donor, and a base is a proton acceptor.
CH₃OH, or methanol, acts as a Brønsted acid because it donates a proton (H+) to the hydroxide ion (OH⁻). The hydroxide ion, in turn, acts as a Brønsted base because it accepts the proton from methanol. After donating a proton, methanol becomes the methoxide ion (CH₃O⁻), which is the conjugate base of methanol. Meanwhile, the water molecule (H₂O) formed in the reaction is the conjugate acid of the hydroxide ion, as it has accepted a proton.
Therefore, in summary:
- CH₃OH is the Brønsted acid.
- OH⁻ is the Brønsted base.
- CH₃O⁻ is the conjugate base of methanol.
- H₂O is the conjugate acid of the hydroxide ion.