Consider the base hydroxylamine, NH2OH. (a) What is the conjugate acid of hydroxylamine?

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Identify the base in the problem: hydroxylamine, which is NH2OH.

Recall the concept of a conjugate acid: it is formed when a base gains a proton (H+).

Add a proton (H+) to the base NH2OH. This involves adding an H+ ion to the nitrogen atom, which is the site of protonation.

Write the chemical formula of the conjugate acid: NH3OH+.

Verify the charge balance: The original base NH2OH is neutral, and after gaining a proton, the conjugate acid NH3OH+ has a positive charge.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs

In acid-base chemistry, a conjugate acid is formed when a base accepts a proton (H+). This concept is essential for understanding how substances interact in chemical reactions, particularly in Brønsted-Lowry acid-base theory, which defines acids as proton donors and bases as proton acceptors.

Protonation

Protonation is the process by which a molecule gains a proton, resulting in the formation of a conjugate acid. For hydroxylamine (NH2OH), protonation occurs at the nitrogen atom, which has a lone pair of electrons that can bond with a proton, leading to the formation of its conjugate acid.

Hydroxylamine Structure

Hydroxylamine (NH2OH) consists of an amine group (NH2) and a hydroxyl group (OH). Understanding its molecular structure is crucial for predicting its behavior in acid-base reactions, including how it can act as a base and what its conjugate acid will be when it accepts a proton.

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Textbook Question

Citric acid, which is present in citrus fruits, is a triprotic acid (Table 16.3). (a) Calculate the pH of a 0.040 M solution of citric acid. (b) Did you have to make any approximations or assumptions in completing your calculations? (c) Is the concentration of citrate ion 1C6H5O7 3-2 equal to, less than, or greater than the H+ ion concentration?

Textbook Question

The hypochlorite ion, ClO-, acts as a weak base. (a) Is ClO- a stronger or weaker base than hydroxylamine?

Textbook Question

The hypochlorite ion, ClO-, acts as a weak base. (b) When ClO- acts as a base, which atom, Cl or O, acts as the proton acceptor? (c) Can you use formal charges to rationalize your answer to part (b)?