Hydrogen selenide (HSe) reacts with water according to the following equation.
HoSe + H2O -> Set + HOt
In three to five sentences, identify the acid, base, conjugate acid, and conjugate base in this reaction. Use patterns in the periodic table to explain why the substances you identified acted as the acid and the base in this reaction.
In this reaction, hydrogen selenide (HSe) is the acid because it donates a proton (H+) to water. Water acts as the base because it accepts the proton from hydrogen selenide. The conjugate acid is water (HOt) because it gains a proton, and the conjugate base is hydrogen selenide (Set) because it loses a proton.
This classification is based on the patterns in the periodic table. Hydrogen is a nonmetal that can act as an acid by donating a proton (H+). Selenium is a nonmetal that is less electronegative than hydrogen, making it more likely to lose the proton and act as a base. Water, being an oxygen-based compound, has a high electronegativity and can easily accept a proton, making it a suitable base in this reaction.
In this reaction, hydrogen selenide (HSe) acts as the acid, and water (H2O) acts as the base. The conjugate acid is selenide ion (Se2-), and the conjugate base is hydronium ion (H3O+). Hydrogen selenide acts as the acid because it donates a proton (H+) to water, which accepts the proton and acts as the base.
The patterns in the periodic table can help explain why HSe acts as the acid and H2O acts as the base. As we move down a group in the periodic table, the acidity of the hydrogen halides (such as HSe) generally increases. This is because the size of the atom increases, leading to weaker bonding between hydrogen and the halogen. In this case, selenium is in the same group as sulfur, so HSe is expected to be more acidic than water.
On the other hand, water is a neutral molecule, and it acts as the base in this reaction because it accepts the proton from HSe. Although water can act as an acid in certain reactions, in this case, it is acting as a base due to its ability to accept a proton.
In the given equation, hydrogen selenide (HSe) acts as the acid, while water (H2O) acts as the base. The product of the reaction, set and HOt, indicates that HSe donated a proton (H+) to water, making it the acid. On the other hand, water accepts the proton, making it the base.
Hydrogen selenide (HSe) acts as the acid because it is able to donate a proton. The acidity of a compound typically increases as you go down a group on the periodic table, and since selenium (Se) is below oxygen (O), it has a greater ability to donate a proton.
Water (H2O), as the base, has the ability to accept a proton. Oxygen (O) has a higher electronegativity than selenium (Se), making it more capable of attracting a proton and acting as a base.
Therefore, based on the periodic table trends, hydrogen selenide acts as the acid due to the presence of selenium (Se), and water acts as the base due to the presence of oxygen (O).