Final answer:
Conjugate acid-base pairs differ by a single proton. A conjugate acid has one more proton than its conjugate base, as in the pair of H2O and OH−. The strength of an acid or base can be compared to water and is influential in determining if a base will show basic behavior in an aqueous solution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conjugate acid-base pairs differ by the presence or absence of a single proton (H+). A conjugate acid has one more proton than its corresponding base. For example, H2O (water) and OH− (hydroxide ion) form a conjugate acid-base pair; here, water is the conjugate acid as it has one more proton compared to the hydroxide ion, which is the conjugate base.
In the context of acid-base reactions, when a strong base reacts with water, it accepts protons from water to form the conjugate acid and hydroxide ion. Weaker bases than water may not show observable basic behavior in aqueous solution because their conjugate acids, which are stronger than water, would react to re-form the base. This concept helps us understand the relative strengths of acids and bases by comparing them to water, typically highlighted in acid-base pair charts, such as in Figures 10.2.2, 15.3.3, and 14.8.