Question

What are the conjugate acid and conjugate base respectively for the following reaction?

$H_{2}O+H_{2}O⟶H_3{O}^{+}+O{H}^{-}$

• A. $H_3{O}^{+}$, $O{H}^{-}$
• B. $O{H}^{-}$, $H_3{O}^{+}$
• C. Both $A$ and $B$
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$H_3{O}^{+}$, $O{H}^{-}$

Here, one molecule of water acts as an acid, donating an $H^{+}$ and forming the conjugate base, $O{H}^{-}$, and a second molecule of water acts as a base, accepting the $H^{+}$ ion and forming the conjugate acid, $H_3{O}^{+}$