Propanoic acid (propionic acid) has the formula CH3CH2COOH. Draw the conjugate base, that is, the structure that results from deprotonation. Include all hydrogen atoms and any appropriate formal charges.
Conjugate base contains one less proton as compared to it's parent acid. Deprotonation occurs from most acidic region.
Propionic acid deprotonates to produce it's strong conjugate base propionate.
In propionic acid, -OH group in -COOH functional moiety dissociates to produce [tex]H^{+}[/tex]. Because the O-H bond electrons remains highly polarized towards oxygen atom due to electron withdrawing inductive effect as well as resonating effect of -COOH moiety.
