Hydride ion is a

Options

A. Strong conjugate acid of `H_(2)`
B. Strong conjugate base of `H_(2)`
C. Strong conjugate acid of `H^(+)`
D. Strong conjugate base of `H^(-)`

Answer

To answer the question "Hydride ion is a," we can break down the solution into the following steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution

1. **Definition of Hydride Ion**:
The hydride ion is represented as H⁻. It is formed when a hydrogen atom gains an extra electron, resulting in a negatively charged ion.

2. **Formation of Hydride Ion**:
The hydride ion is created when a hydrogen atom (H) accepts an electron. This can be represented as:
\[ H + e^- \rightarrow H^- \]
Here, \(e^-\) represents the electron that is added to the hydrogen atom.

3. **Properties of Hydride Ion**:
The hydride ion is known to act as a strong reducing agent. It can donate its extra electron to other species, thus reducing them.

4. **Comparison with Other Ions**:
The hydride ion (H⁻) is different from the hydrogen cation (H⁺). While H⁺ is a proton and is positively charged, H⁻ carries a negative charge due to the additional electron.

5. **Conjugate Base Concept**:
In acid-base chemistry, the hydride ion can be considered the conjugate base of hydrogen (H₂). When hydrogen loses a proton (H⁺), it can form the hydride ion (H⁻).

6. **Conclusion**:
Therefore, the hydride ion is a negatively charged ion (anion) that acts as a strong base and reducing agent.

### Final Answer
The hydride ion is a **negatively charged ion (H⁻)**, which acts as a strong base and reducing agent.

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