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

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the base in the problem: hydroxylamine, which is NH2OH.
2. Recall the concept of a conjugate acid: it is formed when a base gains a proton (H+).
3. Add a proton (H+) to the base NH2OH. This involves adding an H+ ion to the nitrogen atom, which is the site of protonation.
4. Write the chemical formula of the conjugate acid: NH3OH+.
5. Verify the charge balance: The original base NH2OH is neutral, and after gaining a proton, the conjugate acid NH3OH+ has a positive charge.

Key Concepts

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.