This prompts an important question; where does charge (in this case negative charge) want to be? Generally, electronegative atoms prefer holding a negative charge and larger atoms are stable with that extra lone pair. Additionally, electron delocalization (resonance) greatly stabilizes negative charges and contributes to the favourability of certain species in reactions. In acid-base situations, if the charge in one of the bases is able to delocalize, that species will generally form and be favoured. In the example below, hydroxide reacts with the carboxylic acid to give products that are heavily favoured because the negative charge in the conjugate base is able to delocalize.