Question
Hydrogen selenide (H2Se) reacts with water according to the following equation.
H2Se+H2O→SeH−+H3O+
In three to five sentences, identify the acid, base, conjugate acid, and conjugate base in this reaction. Use the periodic table to explain why each substance acted as the acid or the base in this reaction.
H2Se+H2O→SeH−+H3O+
In three to five sentences, identify the acid, base, conjugate acid, and conjugate base in this reaction. Use the periodic table to explain why each substance acted as the acid or the base in this reaction.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In the reaction between hydrogen selenide (H₂Se) and water, H₂Se acts as the acid because it donates a proton (H⁺), while water (H₂O) functions as the base since it accepts the proton. The conjugate acid formed is the hydronium ion (H₃O⁺), which results from water accepting the proton. The conjugate base produced is the selenide ion (SeH⁻), which is the remaining species after H₂Se donates a proton. The acidity of H₂Se is influenced by selenium's position in the periodic table; it is in Group 16, and its larger atomic radius and lower electronegativity than oxygen make it more favorable to release a proton, thereby acting as an acid in this reaction.