conjugate base

A conjugate base is the species formed when an acid donates a proton (H⁺). In simpler terms, when an acid loses a hydrogen ion, what's left behind is called its conjugate base. For example, when hydrochloric acid (HCl) donates a proton, it becomes chloride (Cl⁻), which is its conjugate base. Conjugate bases can react with acids to reform the original acid, and they play an essential role in acid-base chemistry, helping to maintain balance in various chemical reactions and biological processes.