Unit 5.3: Conjugate acid-base pairs

Learning Objectives

• Identify conjugate acid-base pairs for given compounds. When the acid, HA, loses a proton, its conjugate base, A^–, is formed. When the base, A^–, accepts a proton, its conjugate acid, HA, is formed. These two are a conjugate acid-base pair.
• Describe a substance that can act as either acid or base as amphoteric. Water is a good example of an amphoteric substance.
• Write equations to show how an amphoteric substance can act as acid or base.

You must be able to write balanced equations of aqueous solutions of acids and bases and be able to identify conjugate acid-base pairs. Conjugate acid-base pairs are compounds that differ from each other by H⁺ (proton)