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In the following reaction, determine if the following species are Acid, Base, Conjugate Acid, and Conjugate Base in the forward reaction.

In the following reaction, determine if the following species are Acid, Base, Conjugate-example-1

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On of the definitions of acids and bases in acid/base reactions is that the acid is the species that donates a H⁺, while the base is the species that receives it.

As we can see, in the reaction the species HC₂H₃O₂ loses its H⁺ and pair up with Na⁺, so it is the acid, because it is donating the H⁺ in the reaction.

NaOH, on the other hand, is receiving the H⁺ and turning into H₂O, while its Na⁺ pairs with the other. This means that NaOH is the base, since it is receiving the H⁺.

The conjugate acid is the acid that is formed in the reaction by the species that received the H⁺, that is, the base reactant receives the H⁺ and turn itself into its conjugate acid.

The conjugate base, on the other hand, is the species formed by the acid after it donated the H⁺.

The acid, HC₂H₃O₂, turned into NaC₂H₃O₂, so this is the conjugate base.

The base, NaOH, turned into H₂O, so this is the conjugate acid.

Thus, we have:

Acid: HC₂H₃O₂

Base: NaOH

Conjugate Acid: H₂O

Conjugate Base: NaC₂H₃O₂

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