General Veterinary Biochemistry

ACIDS AND BASES

Some example of acids and bases

                                        Conjugate Base

Some compounds can act as proton donor and proton acceptor and these compounds are known as ampholytes or are said to be amphoteric.

• As per the modern concept an acid is a proton donor and a base is a proton acceptor.
• On ionization, an acid donates a proton and a base (which is capable of acceptinga proton). This base is known as a conjugate base.

• Acids and bases are classified into two groups depending on their tendency to lose proton or hydroxyl group respectively. They are strong acids and weak acids. Strong base and weak base.
• Strong acids or bases are those, which ar completely ionized in solution.
• Stronger acid

• Strong base

• The weak acid o base dissociates only to a limited extend and the concentration of H⁺ and OH^-  depends on the dissociation constant of acid and base respectively
• Weak acid

• Weak base

• The term alkali is reserved for those compounds that yield OH^- ions on dissociation