How would you identify the acid, base, conjugate acid and conjugate base in the following reaction: HCN + SO4^(2-) --> HSO4^(-) + CN^(-)?

1 Answer
anor277
Nov 22, 2015

Acid, hydrogen cyanide, "Prussic" acid; base, sulfate ion. The conjugate species is idenitified by proton addition OR removal.

Explanation:

Acid, H-C-=N; conjugate base, N-=C^-, cyanide anion.

Base, SO_4^(2-), sulfate ion; conjugate acid. HSO_4^-.

The conjugate acid is simply the starting material PLUS a proton; the conjugate base is simply the starting material MINUS a proton. Both mass and charge are conserved. SO the conjugate base of sulfuric acid, H_2SO_4, is HSO_4^-, and the conjugate base of this anion is SO_4^(2-).

What is the conjugate acid of sulfuric acid, H_2SO_4? I assure you that it exists.

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