In this reaction, H2Se is the acid and H2O is the base. The conjugate acid is H3O+ and the conjugate base is SeH-.
H2Se acts as the acid because it donates a hydrogen ion (H+) to water, forming the hydronium ion (H3O+). H2Se is classified as an acid because it contains a central selenium atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms, and selenium tends to exhibit acidic properties as it is located below sulfur in the periodic table.
On the other hand, water acts as the base because it accepts the hydrogen ion donated by H2Se, forming the hydroxide ion (OH-). Water has the ability to act as a base due to its lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom, which allow it to accept a proton and form a hydroxide ion. Overall, the acidity of H2Se and basicity of water in this reaction can be attributed to their positions in the periodic table and their chemical properties.
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 patterns in the periodic table to explain why the substances you identified acted as the acid and the base in this reaction.
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