As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 79,000 lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed.
Try it risk-freeAlready registered? Log in here for access
Nikki has a master's degree in teaching chemistry and has taught high school chemistry, biology and astronomy.
If we approach conjugate bases like experienced detectives, the first place to investigate them is the last place we would expect them to be: in the world of acids. Chemically speaking, acids are the opposite of bases. In general, acids are substances that break apart in water to produce hydrogen ions (H+). They have low pH values, taste, and smell sour, and can be corrosive.
Conjugate bases are intimately related to acids. A conjugate base is the particle that is left over after the acid loses its hydrogen ion. Most of the time, conjugate bases are negatively charged and have high pH values.
There are as many conjugate bases as there are acids. When an acid loses a hydrogen ion, its conjugate base is produced. An acid and its conjugate base have the same formula but with one minor difference: an acid has one more hydrogen ion than the conjugate base does.
Let's take hydrochloric acid (HCl), a fairly common acid. Since HCl is an acid, when put into water it produces hydrogen ions (H+). After the acid loses its hydrogen ion, the negatively charged chloride ion (Cl-) is left over. The chloride ion (Cl-) is the conjugate base of HCl.
 |
Take a look at this chart of acids and their conjugate bases. Do you notice any patterns that describe the difference between an acid and its conjugate base?
 |
For example, did you notice how the conjugate bases resemble the acids they were formed from (except that they are missing a hydrogen ion (H+), making them negatively charged)?
We can show the relationship between an acid and its conjugate base using this expression: HA --> H+ + A-, where HA is the acid, H+ is the hydrogen ion, and A- is the conjugate base of the acid.
Some conjugate bases are stronger than others, meaning they attack or attach to hydrogen ions with varying strengths. Strong conjugate bases attack and attach very well to hydrogen ions. Weak conjugate bases don't attack or attach to hydrogen ions very well.
Conjugate bases are also produced in an acid-base reaction. In an acid-base reaction, the reacting acid loses its hydrogen ion to the reacting base, producing a conjugate base and other products.
For example, in this simplified acid-base reaction, the acid HF loses its hydrogen to the base OH, producing water, shown as HOH, and the conjugate base F, both of which have a negative charge.
In this second acid-base reaction, HNO subscript 3 loses its hydrogen to water, which is the base in this reaction. NO subscript 3, the conjugate base of HNO subscript 3, is produced.
A conjugate base is what's left over after an acid loses a hydrogen ion. In general, conjugate bases are negatively charged and have higher pH values.
Every acid has a conjugate base. The conjugate base of an acid has the same formula except that the acid has one more hydrogen ion.
Conjugate bases may be produced when an acid dissociates in water or during an acid-base reaction.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Already a member? Log In
BackAlready registered? Log in here for access
Did you know… We have over 200 college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.
To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page
Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Study.com has thousands of articles about every imaginable degree, area of study and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you.
Back To Course
General Studies Science: Help & Review24 chapters | 342 lessons | 1 flashcard set
{{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? 's' : ''}}
Next Lesson
| 30 day money back guarantee | ||||
|
Starting
Original Price |
/yr | /mo | ||
| Just Just | /day | |||
| Parent Admin Account | $0 | /mo | ||
| /yr | /mo | |||
|
Starting
Original Price |
/yr | /mo | ||
| Discount For months |
- % - | / | ||
| Referral Credit | - | |||
|
Price after trial Starting Price starting today |
/ | |||
| Referral Credit |
- | |||
| Price starting today | / | |||
| Just Just | Just Just | /day | ||
| 30 day money back guarantee | ||
| Save % off monthly plan | /mo | |
| Just | /mo | |
| Price | /yr | |
Your Cart is Empty. Please Choose a Product.
Watch 5 minute video clips, get step by step explanations, take practice quizzes and tests to master any topic.
Study.com has a library of 550,000 questions and answers for covering your toughest textbook problems
I love the way expert tutors clearly explains the answers to my homework questions. Keep up the good work!
- Maritess, College StudentStudy.com video lessons have helped over 30 million students.
"I learned more in 10 minutes than 1 month of chemistry classes"
- Ashlee P.
"I learned more in 10 minutes than 1 month of chemistry classes"
- Ashlee P.
"I aced the CLEP exam and earned 3 college credits!"
- Clair S.
Over 65 million users have prepared for {{displayNameByProductKey[registrationData.product || testPrepCocoon]}} and other exams on Study.com
"The videos have changed the way I teach! The videos on Study.com accomplish in 5 minutes what would take me an entire class."
- Chris F.
Over 65 million users have prepared for {{displayNameByProductKey[registrationData.product || testPrepCocoon]}} and other exams on Study.com
Over 65 million users have prepared for {{displayNameByProductKey[registrationData.product || testPrepCocoon]}} and other exams on Study.com
