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Butanoic acid has an acrid taste and a terribly unpleasant odor. It is found in rancid butter and Parmesan cheese. In aqueous solution, butanoic acid undergoes the reversible reaction shown. Label the conjugate acid-base pairs. Butanoic acid | water | Butanoate ion | Hydronium ion | Answer Bank | | | --- | --- | | conjugate acid | | | conjugate base | | | base | |
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Answer

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Step 1:
: Identify the acid and base in the given reaction.

In this reaction, butanoic acid is acting as an acid because it donates a proton (H+) to water, which acts as a base by accepting the proton.

Step 2:
: Write the dissociation equation for butanoic acid.

Butanoic acid (HA) dissociates into butanoate ion (A-) and a hydrogen ion (H+), which then combines with water to form hydronium ion (H^3O+). \mathrm{HA}(aq) + \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}(l) \rightleftharpoons \mathrm{A}^{-}(aq) + \mathrm{H}_3 \mathrm{O}^{+}(aq)

Step 3:
: Identify the conjugate acid and base.

The conjugate acid is formed when a base gains a proton (H+), and the conjugate base is formed when an acid loses a proton (H+). In this reaction, butanoate ion (A-) is the conjugate base of butanoic acid (HA), and hydronium ion (H^3O+) is the conjugate acid of water (H^2O).

Step 4:
: Fill in the answer bank.

| | | | --- | --- | | conjugate acid | Hydronium ion (H^3O+) | | conjugate base | Butanoate ion (A-) | | base | Water (H^2O) |

Final Answer

conjugate acid: Hydronium ion (H^3O+) conjugate base: Butanoate ion (A-) base: Water (H^2O)