Question

4. Identify the conjugate bases corresponding to the following acids: (a) (Co(NH3)s(H20)]3+ (b) HSO4 (c) CH3OH (d) H2PO4 (e) HS-

Answer 1

In general  conjugate base is a species with one proton less than the parent acid. Using this principle the conjugate base was derived for the molecule of interest

(a) [Co(NH3)5(OH)]2+ is the conjugate base by removing one proton from H2O

(b) SO4(2-). HSO4(-) is a conjugate base for H2SO4. Hence the conjugate base of it is SO4(2-)

(C) CH3O(-). Methanol is a weak acid. Hence its conjugate is base is very strong

(d) HPO4 (2-)

(e) S(2-). The removal of one proton from SH(-) gives its corresponding conjugate base