Acid-Base Reaction with Acetic Acid and Ammonia

In summary, in the given equation CH3CO2H(aq) + NH3, an acid-base reaction occurs and the products formed are CH3COONH4 (acetate) and H2O, according to the classical Arrhenius acid/base theory. However, since ammonia is not a classical Arrhenius base, water will only be formed when reacting with a base containing an OH ion.
  • #1
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Homework Statement


I am trying to determine the products of the equation

CH3CO2H(aq) + NH3


Homework Equations


Acid Base reaction

The Attempt at a Solution


I know that this is an acid-base reaction so I assumed it would form a salt (acetate) and water but that doesn't account for nitrogen, and if i do account for acetate (CH3CO2NH4, then there is no water. I am just wondering which method/equation is correct.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks! :smile:
 
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  • #2
You are correct. There is no water formed in this acid base reaction. This is because ammonia is not a classical Arrhenius base. Water will be formed only when the base contains an OH ion.

(note: you can make this into an equation that is more understandable in terms of Arrhenius acid/base theory if you consider the reaction of ammonia with water:

NH3 + H2O --> NH4OH

So the reaction becomes:

CH3COOH + NH4OH --> CH3COONH4 + H2O)
 
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  • #3


I would like to clarify that the equation provided is not balanced and therefore cannot accurately predict the products of the reaction. However, assuming that the equation is balanced and the reaction is taking place in aqueous solution, the products would be ammonium acetate (CH3CO2NH4) and water (H2O).

The reaction between acetic acid (CH3CO2H) and ammonia (NH3) is a classic example of an acid-base neutralization reaction. In this case, acetic acid acts as the acid (donates a proton) and ammonia acts as the base (accepts a proton). This results in the formation of a salt (ammonium acetate) and water.

The balanced equation for this reaction would be:

CH3CO2H(aq) + NH3(aq) → CH3CO2NH4(aq) + H2O(l)

The formation of ammonium acetate (CH3CO2NH4) can be explained by the transfer of a proton (H+) from acetic acid to ammonia. This results in the formation of the ammonium ion (NH4+) and the acetate ion (CH3CO2-). The ammonium ion and acetate ion then combine to form ammonium acetate, which is a salt that remains in solution.

In conclusion, the correct method/equation for predicting the products of this acid-base reaction is balancing the equation and applying the principles of acid-base neutralization.
 

1. What is an acid-base reaction with acetic acid and ammonia?

An acid-base reaction with acetic acid and ammonia is a chemical reaction in which acetic acid, a weak acid, reacts with ammonia, a weak base, to form a salt and water. This reaction is also known as a neutralization reaction.

2. What are the products of the acid-base reaction between acetic acid and ammonia?

The products of the acid-base reaction between acetic acid and ammonia are ammonium acetate (a salt) and water. The chemical equation for this reaction is: CH3COOH + NH3 → NH4CH3COO + H2O

3. What is the pH of the resulting solution after the acid-base reaction?

The pH of the resulting solution after the acid-base reaction will depend on the initial concentrations of acetic acid and ammonia. However, since both acetic acid and ammonia are weak acids and bases, the resulting solution will likely have a pH close to 7, making it neutral.

4. How does the strength of acetic acid and ammonia affect the rate of the acid-base reaction?

The strength of acetic acid and ammonia will affect the rate of the acid-base reaction. Stronger acids and bases will react faster compared to weaker ones. This is because stronger acids and bases dissociate more easily in solution, allowing for more frequent collisions between the reactant molecules, thus increasing the rate of the reaction.

5. Can the acid-base reaction between acetic acid and ammonia be reversed?

Yes, the acid-base reaction between acetic acid and ammonia can be reversed. This is known as a reversible reaction, meaning the products can also react with each other to form the original reactants. In this case, ammonium acetate and water can react to form acetic acid and ammonia again.

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