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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