Acid vs Conjugate Acid: Understanding the Key Differences

[M Usman]

Difference between acid and conjugate acid

 

[chem_tr]

Hello, suppose that an acid is HA and its conjugate base is A^-. An acid is the (more) protonated form of the common anion, and the conjugate base is less (or not) protonated one.

For example, $H_3PO_4$ is an acid, and its conjugate base is $H_2PO_4^-$. $H_2PO_4^-$ may be another acid, yet less powerful than the previous one, for its conjugate base, $HPO_4^{2-}$, which is a stronger acid than $PO_4^{3-}$

Hope you got what conjugate acid/base pair means.

 

[ravenprp]

An acid is a substance that can donate a proton (H+) in a chemical reaction, while a conjugate acid is the resulting species after the acid has donated a proton. In other words, a conjugate acid is formed when an acid loses a proton. For example, HCl (hydrochloric acid) can donate a proton to water to form its conjugate acid, H3O+ (hydronium ion).

The key difference between an acid and its conjugate acid is the presence or absence of a proton. An acid has a proton that it can donate, while a conjugate acid has already donated its proton and no longer has one to donate. This makes the conjugate acid more stable than the acid, as it has a full outer shell of electrons.

Another important difference is in their strength. An acid and its conjugate acid have a relationship known as the acid-base conjugate pair, where the strength of the acid is inversely proportional to the strength of its conjugate acid. This means that a strong acid will have a weak conjugate acid, and vice versa.

Furthermore, an acid and its conjugate acid have different properties. An acid is typically sour-tasting, corrosive, and can turn litmus paper red. On the other hand, a conjugate acid may not have these properties, as it is the product of an acid-base reaction and may have a different chemical composition.

In summary, the key differences between an acid and its conjugate acid lie in their ability to donate a proton, their strength, and their properties. Understanding these differences is crucial in understanding acid-base reactions and their role in chemistry.