Identify the Bronsted-Lowry acid and base in the reaction #"NH"_4^(+)(aq) + "H"_2"O"(l) -> "NH"_3(aq) + "H"_3"O"^(+)(aq)#? What is the conjugate base?

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Answer 1 · 2017-08-14T01:52:07

Well, for...

#"NH"_4^(+)(aq) + "H"_2"O"(l) -> "NH"_3(aq) + "H"_3"O"^(+)(aq)#,

the conjugate base has one less #"H"^(+)#. What has one less #"H"^(+)# than #"H"_3"O"^(+)#?

#"H"_3"O"^(+) - "H"^(+) = "H"_2"O"#

And in fact, water is amphoteric. What is the conjugate base of #"H"_2"O"# in...

#"H"_2"O"(l) + "CH"_3"COO"^(-)(aq) -> "CH"_3"COOH"(aq) + "OH"^(-)(aq)#?

Given that acetate, #"CH"_3"COO"^(-)#, is a weak base, will acetic acid be a weak or strong acid?