Which of the following is a conjugate acid-base pair?
Conjugate acid base pair definition is independently proposed by Bronsted-Lowry in 1923. According to them, an acid is any hydrogen containing material like molecule, cation, or anion that can release a proton to any other substances. A base is any substance like molecule, cation, or anion that can accept a proton to any other substance. In short, an acid is a proton donner and a base is a proton acceptor. The members which can be formed from each other by mutually gain or loss of protons are called conjugate acid base pair. Some common examples for formation conjugate bases from acids are,
From the above definition, we can easily find out conjugate acid base pair. For example, when hydrogen chloride donates a proton to water. Therefore, it is an acid. On the other hand, water accepts a proton from hydrogen chloride. According to the definition, it is a base. The equilibrium reaction involves two acids and two bases. The stronger acid and weaker base form one conjugate pair and the stronger base and weaker acid form another pair.
