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One use of conjugate acids and bases lies in buffering systems, which include a buffer solution. In a buffer, a weak acid and its conjugate base (in the form of a salt), or a weak base and its conjugate acid, are used in order to limit the pH change during a titration process. Buffers have both organic and non-organic chemical applications.
An acid–base reaction is, thus, the removal of a hydrogen ion from the acid and its addition to the base. [21] The removal of a hydrogen ion from an acid produces its conjugate base, which is the acid with a hydrogen ion removed. The reception of a proton by a base produces its conjugate acid, which is the base with a hydrogen ion added.
The acid, HA, is a proton donor which can lose a proton to become its conjugate base, A −. The base, B, is a proton acceptor which can become its conjugate acid, HB +. Most acid–base reactions are fast, so the substances in the reaction are usually in dynamic equilibrium with each other. [8]
The conjugate base of a Brønsted–Lowry acid is also a Lewis base as loss of H + from the acid leaves those electrons which were used for the A—H bond as a lone pair on the conjugate base. However, a Lewis base can be very difficult to protonate , yet still react with a Lewis acid.
For aqueous solutions of an acid HA, the base is water; the conjugate base is A − and the conjugate acid is the hydronium ion. The Brønsted–Lowry definition applies to other solvents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide : the solvent S acts as a base, accepting a proton and forming the conjugate acid SH + .
Metal oxides, hydroxides, and especially alkoxides are basic, and conjugate bases of weak acids are weak bases. Bases and acids are seen as chemical opposites because the effect of an acid is to increase the hydronium (H 3 O +) concentration in water, whereas bases reduce this concentration
For buffers in acid regions, the pH may be adjusted to a desired value by adding a strong acid such as hydrochloric acid to the particular buffering agent. For alkaline buffers, a strong base such as sodium hydroxide may be added. Alternatively, a buffer mixture can be made from a mixture of an acid and its conjugate base.
Its conjugate base is the acetate ion with K b = 10 −14 /K a = 5.7 x 10 −10 (from the relationship K a × K b = 10 −14), which certainly does not correspond to a strong base. The conjugate of a weak acid is often a weak base and vice versa.