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WAChemistryQuick questions
Unit 3: Equilibrium, Acids and Bases, and Redox
Quick questions on Conjugate acid-base pairs and amphiprotic species: WACE Year 12 Chemistry
2short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the inverse strength relationship?Show answer
For a conjugate pair, acid strength and conjugate base strength are inversely related: . A strong acid such as HCl is essentially fully ionised, so its conjugate base is negligibly basic and does not affect pH. Conversely, the conjugate base of a weak acid (such as ethanoate from ethanoic acid) is itself a meaningful weak base. This is exactly why a salt of a weak acid, such as sodium ethanoate, gives a slightly basic solution.
What is amphiprotic species?Show answer
Some species can either donate or accept a proton. These are called amphiprotic (a subset of amphoteric behaviour involving proton transfer).
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