What is a conjugate? (Sorry for sounding dumb)

[Ryan M]

In lecture we started using these terms but I don’t seem to remember going over what they are. I believe it’s just “half” of the acid (without the hydrogen) but I would appreciate more clarification. Thanks!

[Hayden Jackson]

Substances that are weak acids or weak bases have conjugate acids and bases. For example, take the week base NH3. As a base it accepts a proton, becoming NH4+, which is said to be the conjugate acid of NH3. In equation form this example looks like this NH3 + H2O --> NH4+ + OH-. On the reactants side, NH3 is the base and H2O is technically the acid, as it will give a proton to NH3. Once NH3 receives that proton, it becomes the acid on the products side, NH4+, because OH- is the base. Hope you can see how NH4+ is the conjugate acid of NH3. And finally, if you think about it the other way around, NH3 is the conjugate base of NH4+. Hope this helps!

[Alexis DeHorta 2A]

You do not sound dumb! No questions are dumb questions. A conjugate refers to a compound formed by the joining of two or more chemical compounds. The term conjugate also refers to an acid and base that differ from each other by a proton. When an acid and base react, the acid forms its conjugate base while the base forms it conjugate acid.

[Maggie Clark]

A conjugate acid or base only differ by one H+

[Bailey Wallace 3A]

A conjugate acid or base only differ by one H+

Is it always only one H+ or are there instances where they can differ by more than that?

[Iman Gauhar 3E]

The conjugate base of a Bronsted acid is the species formed after an acid donates a proton. The conjugate acid of a Bronsted base is the species formed after a base accepts a proton.

HCl(aq)+H2O(l)→H3O+(aq)+Cl−(aq)

The acid in this chemical equation is HCl and the conjugate base is CL-. The base in this chemical equation is H2O and the conjugate acid is H3O+.

[Isela Tamayo 3H]

A conjugate refers to a compound formed by the joining of two or more chemical compounds.

[Dillon Taing 3H]

Conjugates are produced when a hydrogen ion is either received or donated in a reaction involving acids/bases. Conjugate acids are made from bases and conjugate bases are made from acids.

[trevina_brown_2A]

A compound formed by the joining of two or more chemical compounds