In an acid-base reaction, the product that comes from the acid is called the acid's conjugate ________.

In an acid-base reaction, the product that comes from the acid is called the acid's conjugate ________.

• A. Base
• B. Salt
• C. Acid
• D. Hydroxide

Answer: (A)

In a Brønsted-Lowry acid-base reaction, acids donate a proton. After losing that proton, what remains is the acid’s conjugate base. This naming comes from the idea of conjugate pairs: every acid has a conjugate base formed when it donates a proton, and every base has a conjugate acid formed when it accepts one. For example, acetic acid donates a proton to water and becomes acetate (CH3COO−); that acetate is the conjugate base of acetic acid. So the product that comes from the acid is called its conjugate base. Salt and hydroxide are not the conjugate base of a generic acid, and the acid itself is not the conjugate product.

In a Brønsted-Lowry acid-base reaction, acids donate a proton. After losing that proton, what remains is the acid’s conjugate base. This naming comes from the idea of conjugate pairs: every acid has a conjugate base formed when it donates a proton, and every base has a conjugate acid formed when it accepts one. For example, acetic acid donates a proton to water and becomes acetate (CH3COO−); that acetate is the conjugate base of acetic acid. So the product that comes from the acid is called its conjugate base. Salt and hydroxide are not the conjugate base of a generic acid, and the acid itself is not the conjugate product.