The conjugate base of HPO42- is PO43-. To understand this, let’s break it down:
HPO42- is a dihydrogen phosphate ion. When it donates a proton (H+), it forms the conjugate base. The reaction can be represented as:
HPO42- → PO43- + H+
In this reaction, HPO42- loses a proton, resulting in the formation of PO43-, which is the conjugate base. This is a common concept in acid-base chemistry, where the conjugate base is what remains after an acid donates a proton.