Acid-Base Reaction with Acetic Acid and Ammonia

[needphyshelp]

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!

 

[Ygggdrasil]

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)